pay

1
[ pey ]
See synonyms for: paypaidpaying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),paid or ( Obsolete except for def. 12 ) payed, pay·ing.
  1. to settle (a debt, obligation, etc.), as by transferring money or goods, or by doing something: Please pay your bill.

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

  1. 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.

  2. to defray (cost or expense).

  3. to give compensation for.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

verb (used without object),paid,pay·ing.
  1. to transfer money, goods, etc., as in making a purchase or settling a debt.

  2. to discharge a debt or obligation.

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

  2. to give compensation, as for damage or loss sustained.

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

noun
  1. the act of paying or being paid; payment.

  2. wages, salary, or a stipend.

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

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

  3. reward or punishment; requital.

  4. a rock stratum from which petroleum is obtained.

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

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

  1. of or relating to payment.

Verb Phrasespast and past participle paid,present participle pay·ing.
  1. pay back. See entry at payback.

  2. 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.

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

  2. pay off. See entry at payoff.

  3. pay out. See entry at payout.

  4. pay up,

    • to pay fully.

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

Idioms about pay

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  1. 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

1
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.

Other words for pay

Words Nearby pay

Other definitions for pay (2 of 2)

pay2
[ pey ]

verb (used with object),payed, pay·ing.Nautical.
  1. to coat or cover (seams, a ship's bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.

Origin of pay

2
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. 2024

How to use pay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pay (1 of 2)

pay1

/ (peɪ) /


verbpays, paying or paid
  1. to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something: he paid his creditors

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

  1. to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefit: it pays one to be honest

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

  3. (tr) to make (a visit or call)

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

  5. (tr) to yield a return of: the shares pay 15 per cent

  6. to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay back: he paid for the insult with a blow

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

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

  9. 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

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

  1. (modifier) requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during use: a pay phone; a pay toilet

  2. (modifier) rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or worked: pay gravel

Origin of pay

1
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) /


verbpays, paying or payed
  1. (tr) nautical to caulk (the seams of a wooden vessel) with pitch or tar

Origin of pay

2
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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.