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dues-paying

American

[dooz-pey-ing, dyooz-] / ˈduzˌpeɪ ɪŋ, ˈdyuz- /

adjective

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

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

noun

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

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

Etymology

Origin of dues-paying

First recorded in 1860–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Huang is a community organizer, minister and dues-paying member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2026

Epstein wasn’t a dues-paying member of the club, but Trump told staff to treat him like one, the employees said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

The group claimed it had over 40,000 dues-paying members at the height of its membership during Barack Obama’s presidency.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2025

The group does not release its list of dues-paying members, nor does it publicize information about where or how it conducts trainings.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2023

He wasn't even a member of the German American Bund, a Hitler-endorsed organization comprising an estimated 25,000 dues-paying Germans living in America.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023