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Synonyms

pay up

British  

verb

  1. (adverb) to pay (money) promptly, in full, or on demand

"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
pay up Idioms  

  1. Pay in full, discharge all that is owing, as in, It's late—let's pay up and go home. [c. 1800] Also see pay off, def. 1.

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.

"Fifa point to their unconfirmed sales figures as validation of their unfair ticket practices, while the reality is they leave loyal fans with no other choice - pay up or lose out," Evain said.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

So, tech companies are being forced to pick up more of the tab, signing deals that make them pay up even if AI proves to be a bust.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Although individual carriers would not have to pay up, these lawsuits could uncover and publicize their misconduct, leading to other professional and personal consequences.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

Still, Morningstar analyst Erin Lash said in an interview that even when consumers are financially squeezed, they may pay up for better basics that might have a longer-term payoff.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

‘Well, have I been pressing you? Have I ever made you out a bill and asked you to pay up?’

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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

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