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• pay-as-you-go
  pay-as-you-go

  noun

  the principle or practice of paying for goods and services at the time of purchase, rather than relying on credit.
• pay as you go
  pay as you go

  Pay for purchases immediately instead of deferring payment. For example, Ruth and Bob had no credit cards; they believed in paying as you go. [First half of 1800s]

pay-as-you-go

American  

[pey-uhz-yoo-goh] / ˈpeɪ əz jʊˈgoʊ /

noun

1. the principle or practice of paying for goods and services at the time of purchase, rather than relying on credit.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or based on such a principle or practice.

   a pay-as-you-go budget.

pay as you go Idioms  

1. Pay for purchases immediately instead of deferring payment. For example, Ruth and Bob had no credit cards; they believed in paying as you go. [First half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of pay-as-you-go

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pay-as-you-go pay as you go

Exceeding the usage cap switches the user to pay-as-you-go rates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Social Security, on the other hand, is a pay-as-you-go system, with all contributions placed in trust funds that pay out benefits to current retirees and other eligible individuals.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

As a result, Social Security moved from a funded program to a pay-as-you-go system where current workers pay the benefits for current retirees.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 21, 2026

Companies sometimes opt for pay-as-you-go plans, while others might buy enterprise plans that include a certain amount of use per worker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

I bought myself a pay-as-you-go flip phone and we started texting each other sarcastic things about people in our lives.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

It added that the existing daily pay as you go caps on contactless or Oyster would not be affected.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2023

But in space, he said, “You have to pay as you go, you don’t get your money back, and nothing is guaranteed.”

From Washington Post ● May 26, 2019

Like most "pay as you go" mobile games, there are several types of resources you need to progress.

From The Verge ● Aug. 4, 2014

America’s Pre-Pay Market Becomes Competitive One thing I am surprised about when I travel to the US is the relative lack of competition in the pre-ay / pay as you go market.

From Forbes ● Mar. 25, 2013

"You shall pay for all you get, and pay as you go."

From A Fascinating Traitor An Anglo-Indian Story by Richard Savage