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Synonyms

payable

American  
[pey-uh-buhl] / ˈpeɪ ə bəl /

adjective

  1. to be paid; due.

    a loan payable in 30 days.

  2. capable of being or liable to be paid.

  3. profitable.

  4. Law. imposing an immediate obligation on the debtor.


noun

  1. an amount, bill, etc., that is to be paid.

  2. payables, the accounts payable of a business.

    Payables are now handled by our computer.

payable British  
/ ˈpeɪəbəl /

adjective

  1. (often foll by on) to be paid

    payable on the third of each month

  2. that is capable of being paid

  3. capable of being profitable

  4. (of a debt) imposing an obligation on the debtor to pay, esp at once

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of payable

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at pay 1, -able

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.

See Examples For:

Meta would pay in 10 annual installments totaling about $11.7 billion, with a further $5 billion payable only if rival platforms sign comparable agreements -- a maximum of $16.7 billion.

From Barron's Aug. 26, 2026

Agreements totaling $110 million followed, payable if the data center is built.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 16, 2026

H&R Block raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to 46 cents a share, payable on Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 11, 2026

A lump sum, equivalent of 25% of the annual ministerial salary, is payable when a minister stops holding office.

From BBC Jul. 23, 2026

The contract provided that all monies accruing to Malcolm X “shall be made payable by the agent to ‘Muhammad’s Mosque No. 2,’ ” but Malcolm X felt this was insufficient.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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