1
a
: a payment usually of money for labor or services usually according to contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
b
wages plural
: the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production
2
: recompense, reward
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
the wages of sin is death—
Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
waged; waging
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
: to be in process of occurring
the riot waged for several hours—Amer. Guide Series: Md.
Amer. Guide Series: Md.Examples of wage in a Sentence
Noun
Both of them make decent wages.
The table and chairs cost two weeks' wages.
The company offers competitive wages and good benefits.
The company gave workers a four percent wage increase this year.
Verb
They waged a guerrilla war against the government.
Local activists are waging a campaign to end homelessness in the region.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
For example, Illinois sets required wage rates local governments have to pay for public works projects—a mandate that takes away local control, significantly inflates costs and limits the ability to stretch taxpayer dollars.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Ray Takeyh, National Review, 22 Mar. 2025
Elias Shraga, chairman for the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a legal watchdog, agreed that Netanyahu’s war in Gaza was being waged to keep him in power.
—Mike Schwartz, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wage
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Noun
Chelsea do not disclose their wage bill but their total expenses in 2022-23 (£13.1m) were nearly double United’s from the same year (£7.1m).
—Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
For example, Illinois sets required wage rates local governments have to pay for public works projects—a mandate that takes away local control, significantly inflates costs and limits the ability to stretch taxpayer dollars.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
An economy that would lift up the working class in whose name the revolution was waged. ...
—Ray Takeyh, National Review, 22 Mar. 2025
Elias Shraga, chairman for the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a legal watchdog, agreed that Netanyahu’s war in Gaza was being waged to keep him in power.
—Mike Schwartz, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wage
Cite this Entry
“Wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wage
1 of 2 verb
waged; waging
1
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
2
: to be in the process of occurring
the battle waged for hours
wage
2 of 2 noun1
: a payment for work or services usually calculated on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
2
singular or plural
: something given or received because of one's actions : reward
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