pay

1 of 4

verb (1)

paid ˈpād How to pronounce pay (audio) also in sense 7 payed; paying

transitive verb

1
a
: to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered
paid the pizza deliverer
b
: to engage for money : hire
You couldn't pay me to do that.
paid a teenager to mow his lawn
2
a
: to give in return for goods or service
pay wages
b
: to discharge indebtedness for : settle
pay a bill
c
: to make a disposal or transfer of (money)
paid a few dollars weekly into a savings account
3
: to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution
pay the penalty
4
a
: to make compensation (see compensation sense 2) for
His trouble was well paid in the end.
b
: to requite according to what is deserved
pay them back
5
: to give, offer, or make freely or as fitting
pay attention
pay your respects
6
a
: to return value or profit to
it pays you to stay open
b
: to bring in as a return
an investment paying five percent
7
: to slacken (something, such as a rope) and allow to run out
used with out
paid out the rope as it jerked taut

intransitive verb

1
: to discharge a debt or obligation
I'll pay when I have the money.
2
: to be worth the expense or effort
crime doesn't pay
3
: to suffer the consequences of an act
He paid for his crime.

pay

2 of 4

noun

1
: something paid for a purpose and especially as a salary or wage : remuneration
2
a
: the act or fact of paying or being paid
b
: the status of being paid by an employer : employ
3
: a person viewed with respect to reliability or promptness in paying debts or bills
4
a
: ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and especially gold in profitable amounts
b
: an oil-yielding stratum or zone

pay

3 of 4

adjective

1
: containing or leading to something precious or valuable
2
: equipped with a coin slot for receiving a fee for use
a pay telephone
3
: requiring payment

pay

4 of 4

verb (2)

payed also paid; paying

transitive verb

: to coat with a waterproof composition
Phrases
pay one's dues
1
: to earn a right or position through experience, suffering, or hard work
He's paid his dues and deserves a promotion.
2
or less commonly pay dues : pay sense intransitive 3
pay one's way or pay one's own way
: to pay one's share of expenses
She took a part-time job to pay her own way through college.
pay the piper
: to bear the cost of something
You have to do what they say because they are paying the piper.
pay through the nose
: to pay exorbitantly or dearly
I found the perfect dress, but I had to pay through the nose for it.
Choose the Right Synonym for pay

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something.

pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of pay in a Sentence

Verb (1) we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert an investment paying six percent pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer Noun He has been suspended without pay pending the results of the investigation. Each pay period begins on the first of the month. Workers received a $4,000 pay increase. I took a significant pay cut when I took this job, but I think it was worth it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The company has settled a legal proceeding related to a lease agreement, agreeing to pay $100,000 in rent and $13,953 in nonrefundable rent deposit. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 The developers agreed to pay him another $50,000 later, the indictment said. Bracey Harris, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
There was no more prep time, not many more takes, and not much more pay. James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024 This increase is primarily due to higher wages and benefits, variable incentive pay, and aircraft maintenance costs. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
According to the American Diabetes Association, 22 states and Washington D.C. have imposed insulin co-pay caps ranging from $25 to $100 for 30-day supplies, which some would like to expand nationwide. Benjamin Ryan, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023 In August, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, the Diabetes Leadership Council, and the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition filed a lawsuit challenging the federal rule that allows co-pay accumulators. Katie Wedell, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2022 See all Example Sentences for pay 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1), Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French paier, from Latin pacare to pacify, from pac-, pax peace

Verb (2)

obsolete French peier, from Latin picare, from pic-, pix pitch — more at pitch

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pay was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near pay

Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pay

1 of 3 verb
paid ˈpād How to pronounce pay (audio) also in sense 6 payed; paying
1
: to give (as money) in return for services received or for something bought
pay the taxi driver
pay for a ticket
2
: to give what is owed
pay a tax
3
: to get even with
pay someone back for an insult
4
: to give or offer freely
pay a compliment
pay attention
5
a
: to return value or profit to
it pays to drive carefully
b
: to give as a return
a bank account paying eight percent
6
: to make slack and allow to run out
pay out a rope
payer
ˈpā-ər
noun
also payor
ˈpā-ər,
pā-ˈȯ(ə)r

pay

2 of 3 noun
1
a
: the act of paying
b
: the state of being paid or employed for money
2
: something paid
especially : wage entry 2, salary

pay

3 of 3 adjective
1
: containing or leading to something valuable
2
: having a coin slot for receiving money for use

More from Merriam-Webster on pay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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