pay

¹

[pey]

verb (used with object)

paid , payed, paying .

1. to settle (a debt, obligation, etc.), as by transferring money or goods, or by doing something.

   Please pay your bill.

   Synonyms: liquidate, discharge

2. to give over (a certain amount of money) in exchange for something.

   He paid twenty dollars for the shirt.

3. 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.

   Synonyms: indemnify, reimburse, reward

4. to defray (cost or expense).

5. to give compensation for.

6. to yield a recompense or return to; be profitable to.

   Your training will pay you well in the future.

7. to yield as a return.

   The stock paid six percent last year.

8. to requite, as for good, harm, or an offense.

   How can I pay her for her kindness and generosity?

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

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

11. to suffer in retribution.

    You'll pay the penalty for your stubbornness!

12. Nautical.,  to let (a ship) fall off to leeward.

verb (used without object)

paid , paying .

1. to transfer money, goods, etc., as in making a purchase or settling a debt.

2. to discharge a debt or obligation.

3. to yield a return, profit, or advantage; be worthwhile.

   It pays to be courteous.

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

5. 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.

   Synonyms: allowance, income, honorarium, fee, emolument, remuneration

3. a person with reference to solvency or reputation for meeting obligations.

   The bank regards him as good pay.

4. paid employment.

   One of the army officers was actually in the pay of the enemy.

5. reward or punishment; requital.

6. 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?

3. of or relating to payment.

verb phrase

1. pay for,  to suffer or be punished for.

   The corrupt cop finally pays for his sins when the gang betrays him.

2. pay back.,  payback.

3. pay up

   1. to pay fully.

   2. to pay on demand.

      The gangsters used threats of violence to force the shopkeepers to pay up.

4. pay down

   1. 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.

   2. to pay off or back; amortize.

      The company's debt is being paid down rapidly.

5. pay off.,  payoff.

6. pay out.,  payout.

pay

²

[pey]

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

payed, paying 

1. to coat or cover (seams, a ship's bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.

pay

¹

/ peɪ /

verb

1. to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something

   he paid his creditors

2. to give (money) to (a person) in return for goods or services

   they pay their workers well

   they pay by the hour

3. to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefit

   it pays one to be honest

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

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

6. to give compensation or make amends

7. (tr) to yield a return of

   the shares pay 15 per cent

8. to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay back

   he paid for the insult with a blow

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

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

11. 1. to contribute one's share of expenses

    2. to remain solvent without outside help

noun

1. 1. money given in return for work or services; a salary or wage

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pay slip

      pay claim

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

3. (modifier) requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during use

   a pay phone

   a pay toilet

4. (modifier) rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or worked

   pay gravel

pay

²

/ peɪ /

verb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay¹

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”; peace

Origin of pay²

First recorded in 1610–20; from Middle French poier, Old French peier, from Latin picāre “to smear with pitch,” derivative of pix (stem pic- ) pitch ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay¹

C12: from Old French payer, from Latin pācāre to appease (a creditor), from pāx _peace

Origin of pay²

C17: from Old French peier, from Latin picāre, from pix pitch

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. pay one's / its way,

   1. to pay one's portion of shared expenses.

   2. 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.

3. pay as you go,

   1. to pay for (goods, services, etc.) at the time of purchase, as opposed to buying on credit.

   2. to spend no more than income permits; keep out of debt.

   3. to pay income tax by regular deductions from one's salary or wages.

More idioms and phrases containing pay

• (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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Bishop Montgomery has 24 transfer students this year, and a booster who said he had paid parents to move their sons to Narbonne confirmed he also was helping Bishop Montgomery.

From Los Angeles Times

The jump means coffee drinkers might end up paying up to 7% more per cup, assuming cafes absorb some of the extra cost, he estimated.

From BBC

The companies allege the four-year-old San Francisco firm Midjourney, which has millions of paid subscribers, built its business off decades of hard work by Hollywood artists, writers and studios.

From Los Angeles Times

Teams that exceed the cap must pay luxury tax penalties that grow increasingly severe.

From Los Angeles Times

To pay with cash, Uber customers can select a cash option while booking their trip and hand their payment to the driver after reaching their destination.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allowance 
• compensation 
• fee 
• income 
• payment 
• profit 
• reimbursement 
• remuneration 
• reward 
• salary 
• stipend 
• wage 

When To Use

what is a basic definition of pay?

Pay means to give money to someone to settle a debt or obligation. Pay also means to give money in exchange for something. Pay is also a person’s salary or wages. Pay has many other senses as a verb and a noun.Pay means to settle a bill or a debt, such as paying the check at a restaurant or paying your electric bill. Sometimes you can pay in advance, meaning you pay for the product or service before you receive it. The past tense of the verb pay is paid.Real-life examples: Homeowners pay their mortgages. Citizens pay taxes to the government. College students often have to pay student loans.Used in a sentence: I always keep enough money in the bank to pay my rent on time.Pay also means to give someone money for a product or service.Real-life examples: A person might pay $20 for some old shirts. A parent may pay a store $50 for a gift for their child. A rich person may pay $5 million for a mansion.Used in a sentence: She paid the actor $5 for an autographed picture. Pay is also the money a person earns in exchange for their labor. This sense of pay is a synonym of salary or earnings.Real-life examples: When you have a job, you earn your pay. A doctor has a much higher pay than a teenager working a part-time job. Workers often go on strike or negotiate with the company to try and get a better pay.Used in a sentence: He may not like his job that much, but he never complains about the pay.