pay

[ pey ]

/ peɪ /

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See synonyms for: pay / paid / paying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), paid or ( Obsolete except for def. 12 ) payed, pay·ing.

to settle (a debt, obligation, etc.), as by transferring money or goods, or by doing something: Please pay your bill.

to give over (a certain amount of money) in exchange for something: He paid twenty dollars for the shirt.

to transfer money as compensation or recompense for work done or services rendered; to satisfy the claims of (a person, organization, etc.), as by giving money due: He paid me for my work.

to defray (cost or expense).

to give compensation for.

to yield a recompense or return to; be profitable to: Your training will pay you well in the future.

to yield as a return: The stock paid six percent last year.

to requite, as for good, harm, or an offense: How can I pay her for her kindness and generosity?

to give or render (attention, respects, compliments, etc.), as if due or fitting.

to make (a call, visit, etc.).

to suffer in retribution: You'll pay the penalty for your stubbornness!

Nautical. to let (a ship) fall off to leeward.

verb (used without object), paid,pay·ing.

to transfer money, goods, etc., as in making a purchase or settling a debt.

to discharge a debt or obligation.

to yield a return, profit, or advantage; be worthwhile: It pays to be courteous.

to give compensation, as for damage or loss sustained.

to suffer or be punished for something; atone: The murderer paid with his life.

noun

the act of paying or being paid; payment.

wages, salary, or a stipend.

a person with reference to solvency or reputation for meeting obligations: The bank regards him as good pay.

paid employment: One of the army officers was actually in the pay of the enemy.

reward or punishment; requital.

a rock stratum from which petroleum is obtained.

adjective

requiring subscribed or monthly payment for use or service: With pay TV, you can watch hit movies from the comfort of your own home.

operable or accessible on deposit of a coin or coins: Do you have any change for the pay toilet?

of or relating to payment.

Verb Phrases past and past participle paid,present participle pay·ing.

pay back. See entry at payback.

pay down,

to pay (part of the total price) at the time of purchase, with the promise to pay the balance in installments: On this plan you pay only ten percent down.
to pay off or back; amortize: The company's debt is being paid down rapidly.

pay for, to suffer or be punished for: The corrupt cop finally pays for his sins when the gang betrays him.

pay off. See entry at payoff.

pay out. See entry at payout.

pay up,

to pay fully.
to pay on demand: The gangsters used threats of violence to force the shopkeepers to pay up.

OTHER WORDS FOR pay

1 discharge, liquidate.

3 reward, reimburse, indemnify.

19 remuneration, emolument, fee, honorarium, income, allowance.

See synonyms for pay on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about pay

pay as you go,

to pay for (goods, services, etc.) at the time of purchase, as opposed to buying on credit.
to spend no more than income permits; keep out of debt.
to pay income tax by regular deductions from one's salary or wages.

pay it forward, to express gratitude for kindness or good fortune by doing good for someone else:People were very helpful to us, so we want to pay it forward to other entrepreneurs just starting out.

pay one's / its way,

to pay one's portion of shared expenses.
to yield a return on one's investment sufficient to repay one's expenses: It will take time for the restaurant to begin paying its way.

Origin of pay

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English paien, payen, from Old French paier, paiier, from Medieval Latin pācāre “to satisfy, settle (a debt),” Latin: “to impose a settlement on”; cf. peace

synonym study for pay

19. Pay, wage or wages, salary, stipend are terms for amounts of money or equivalent benefits, usually given at a regular rate or at regular intervals, in return for services. Pay is the general term: His pay went up every year. Wage usually designates the pay given at an hourly, daily, or weekly rate, often for manual or semiskilled work; wages usually means the cumulative amount paid at regular intervals for such work: an hourly wage; weekly wages. Salary designates a fixed, periodic payment for regular work or services, usually computed on a monthly or yearly basis: an annual salary paid in twelve equal monthly installments. Stipend designates a periodic payment, either as a professional salary or, more commonly, as a salary in return for special services or as a grant in support of creative or scholarly work: an annual stipend for work as a consultant; a stipend to cover living expenses.

Words nearby pay

Paxos, Pax Romana, Paxton, pax vobiscum, paxwax, pay, payable, pay a call, pay a compliment, pay-and-display, pay-as-you-go

Other definitions for pay (2 of 2)

pay²

[ pey ]

/ peɪ /

verb (used with object), payed, pay·ing.Nautical.

to coat or cover (seams, a ship's bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.

Origin of pay

First recorded in 1610–20; from Middle French poier, Old French peier, from Latin picāre “to smear with pitch,” derivative of pix (stem pic- ) pitch²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT PAY

what is a basic definition of pay?

Pay means to give money to someone to settle a debt or obligation. Pay also means to give money in exchange for something. Pay is also a person’s salary or wages. Pay has many other senses as a verb and a noun.

Pay means to settle a bill or a debt, such as paying the check at a restaurant or paying your electric bill. Sometimes you can pay in advance, meaning you pay for the product or service before you receive it. The past tense of the verb pay is paid.

Real-life examples: Homeowners pay their mortgages. Citizens pay taxes to the government. College students often have to pay student loans.

Used in a sentence: I always keep enough money in the bank to pay my rent on time.

Pay also means to give someone money for a product or service.

Real-life examples: A person might pay $20 for some old shirts. A parent may pay a store $50 for a gift for their child. A rich person may pay $5 million for a mansion.

Used in a sentence: She paid the actor $5 for an autographed picture.

Pay is also the money a person earns in exchange for their labor. This sense of pay is a synonym of salary or earnings.

Real-life examples: When you have a job, you earn your pay. A doctor has a much higher pay than a teenager working a part-time job. Workers often go on strike or negotiate with the company to try and get a better pay.

Used in a sentence: He may not like his job that much, but he never complains about the pay.

Where does pay come from?

The first records of pay come from around 1150. It ultimately comes from the Medieval Latin pācāre, meaning “to satisfy” or “to settle (a debt).”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pay?

payer (noun)
payment (noun)

What are some synonyms for pay?

What are some words that share a root or word element with pay?

What are some words that often get used in discussing pay?

How is pay used in real life?

Pay is a very common word that is most often used to mean to give money in return for something.

My favorite childhood memory is not having to work to pay bills.

— Wynter_Nomad (@Wynter_Nomad) November 30, 2020

Debating if I should pay $200 to get my phone fixed or just pay $375 to upgrade early 🤔

— Asia (@ThisIs_Asiaa) December 1, 2020

I would pay off my credit cards and bump my credit so I can get a new car and a down payment for a mortgage.

— Rebecca (@Rebecca66571046) December 23, 2020

Try using pay!

Is pay used correctly in the following sentence?

She is willing to pay a lot of money for the newest model of smartphone.

How to use pay in a sentence

While Perigee is pre-revenue with just one employee, she is looking to add paying customers and begin growing the company as she moves into a wider public beta.
Perigee infrastructure security solution from former NSA employee moves into public beta|Ron Miller|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
The move comes after the company stopped paying penalties required as part of a settlement four years ago to clean up its mines across the Appalachian coalfields.
This Billionaire Governor’s Coal Company Might Get a Big Break From His Own Regulators|by Ken Ward Jr.|September 17, 2020|ProPublica
The problem for Google is the businesses who don’t fit into those averages, but also have a right to certain data since they are also paying for the ad program, especially small businesses.
This decade’s most important marketing question: What data rights do advertisers possess?|Kirk Williams|September 17, 2020|Search Engine Land
Google itself claims in its third party policy with advertisers, that there is certain data necessary to show to the one actually paying money to Google for Ads Program usage.
This decade’s most important marketing question: What data rights do advertisers possess?|Kirk Williams|September 17, 2020|Search Engine Land

Under Germany’s Kurzarbeit, which translates to “short-time work,” financially distressed employers can drastically reduce worker hours, and the government will pay most of their lost wages.
Job markets in the US and Europe are surprisingly similar|Dan Kopf|September 16, 2020|Quartz
I was declared innocent, and they said I should pay $104,000.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The escort site Cowboys4Angels peddles chiseled, hot-bodied men and their smoldering model looks to women willing to pay.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex|Aurora Snow|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One that they cannot cash in at the bank to pay for their flats.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That could include private financial or personal information—like the credit-card numbers you used to pay for the corrupted Wi-Fi.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security|Kyle Chayka|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead of just cutting out whole food groups, Bacon says people should pay attention to how food makes them feel.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, on my first day here, you pay me back for what I did then—as if it needed paying back!
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
“We shall make Mr. Pickwick pay for peeping,” said Fogg, with considerable native humour, as he unfolded his papers.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
Condillac after the marquis's death had refused to pay tithes to Mother Church and has flouted and insulted the Bishop.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Of course, newly acquired Ferns will pay for extra attention in the way of watering until they have secured a proper roothold.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
In these enlightened days no man is imprisoned for owing money, but only because he does not pay it when told to do so.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for pay (1 of 2)

pay¹

/ (peɪ) /

verb pays, paying or paid

to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing somethinghe paid his creditors

(when intr, often foll by for) to give (money) to (a person) in return for goods or servicesthey pay their workers well; they pay by the hour

to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefitit pays one to be honest

(tr) to give or bestow (a compliment, regards, attention, etc)

(tr) to make (a visit or call)

(intr often foll by for) to give compensation or make amends

(tr) to yield a return ofthe shares pay 15 per cent

to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay backhe paid for the insult with a blow

(tr; past tense and past participle paid or payed) nautical to allow (a vessel) to make leeway

Australian informal to acknowledge or accept (something) as true, just, etc

pay one's way

to contribute one's share of expenses
to remain solvent without outside help

noun

money given in return for work or services; a salary or wage
(as modifier)a pay slip; pay claim

paid employment (esp in the phrase in the pay of)

(modifier) requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during usea pay phone; a pay toilet

(modifier) rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or workedpay gravel

Word Origin for pay

C12: from Old French payer, from Latin pācāre to appease (a creditor), from pāx peace

British Dictionary definitions for pay (2 of 2)

pay²

/ (peɪ) /

verb pays, paying or payed

(tr) nautical to caulk (the seams of a wooden vessel) with pitch or tar

Word Origin for pay

C17: from Old French peier, from Latin picāre, from pix pitch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with pay

pay

In addition to the idioms beginning with pay

pay a call
pay a compliment
pay as you go
pay attention
pay a visit
pay back
pay court to
pay dirt, hit
pay for
pay off
pay one's dues
pay one's respects
pay one's way
pay out
pay the piper
pay through the nose
pay up
pay your money and take your choice

also see:

(pay the piper) call the tune
crime does not pay
devil to pay
hell to pay
lip service, pay
rob Peter to pay Paul
you get what you pay for

pay

OTHER WORDS FOR pay

Idioms about pay

Origin of pay

synonym study for pay

Words nearby pay

Other definitions for pay (2 of 2)

Origin of pay

MORE ABOUT PAY

what is a basic definition of pay?

Where does pay come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is pay used in real life?

Try using pay!

Words related to pay

How to use pay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pay (1 of 2)

Word Origin for pay

British Dictionary definitions for pay (2 of 2)

Word Origin for pay

Other Idioms and Phrases with pay