dues-paying

[dooz-pey-ing, dyooz-]

adjective

1. gaining experience, especially by hard and often unpleasant or uncongenial work.

   He spent his dues-paying years as a cocktail pianist.

noun

1. the act or process of gaining experience, especially slowly and laboriously.

   She had many years of dues-paying before her abilities were recognized.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dues-paying¹

First recorded in 1860–70

Example Sentences

The mass tort lawsuit, filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court, includes 56 plaintiffs comprising tenants, dues-paying members and guests of the 136-acre property just outside the city of Colton.

From Los Angeles Times

Events were officially canceled in late 2024, and some dues-paying members were banned from entering the premises and not issued refunds on unused memberships.

From Los Angeles Times

He told Salon that he and his followers found the club as an organization of just 30 to 40 dues-paying members and left it a club of around 1,800.

From Salon

The bill allows alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. to dues-paying members of private suites inside Intuit Dome, the $2-billion new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

From Los Angeles Times

The law allows alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. to dues-paying members of private suites inside the $2-billion, 17,700-seat new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

From Los Angeles Times