pay for
Britishverb
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to make payment (of) for
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(intr) to suffer or be punished, as for a mistake, wrong decision, etc
in his old age he paid for the laxity of his youth
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Cover the expenses of, defray the cost of, as in I'll pay for your movie ticket , or This truck will pay for itself within a year . [Mid-1300s]
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Atone for, suffer for, as in He may have looked like a good manager, but his successor will end up paying for his mistakes . [Late 1600s]
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.
Sir Keir argued he has made "hard-edged" choices, including getting every department to make cuts to pay for defence.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
These grants pay for such services as mental health support, college-prep support and partnerships with other entities for career-technical training.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
The promise of the military was that it would pay for college, that it would give you financial stability: You’d have a nice home, drive a good car, see the world.
From Slate • Jun. 17, 2026
Earlier in the boom, large tech companies could largely pay for their own infrastructure buildout, giving them an advantage over smaller competitors, according to Powers.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
“A bit, yes. She’s usually busy prognosticating all over the neighborhood. You’d be amazed what people will pay for a glimpse of the Great Unknown.”
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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.
