pay out
Britishverb
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to distribute (money); disburse
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(tr) to release (a rope) gradually, hand over hand
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(tr) to retaliate against
noun
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Distribute money, disburse, as in He paid out the full amount . [Mid-1800s]
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Let out a rope by slackening, as in She paid out the rope until it was long enough to tie the canoe onto the car . This nautical expression dates from the late 1700s.
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.
That’s a real-world example: A bar owner in Los Angeles used event contracts on Kalshi to pay out if the Dodgers failed to advance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
A recent pullback in bond yields has delivered an added boost by making the dividends these stocks pay out more attractive in comparison.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
On Tuesday, Trump and Vance announced a $25-million whistleblower program designed to pay out cash to people who tip off the federal government about fraudsters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
"As more vehicles are stolen, insurers are forced to pay out more often. Premiums are going to rise," he adds.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
“He says the Coast Guard will probably shut down the Coral Queen right away. He says they won’t throw Dusty in jail, but they could make him pay out a fortune in fines.”
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
