1
as in compensates
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received
we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meets
to give what is owed for
you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spends
to hand over or use up in payment
rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in employs
to provide with a paying job
pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in salaries
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services
it's difficult to support two children on her pay
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in payments
something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services
we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pays
Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
On average, the federal government pays roughly 70% of the total cost of the overarching Medicaid program in Idaho, which includes the expansion.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Springsteen pays tribute to 'maestro' Prince But the weighty undertones of the show were well-balanced with comparatively lighthearted selections that provided an escape from the intensity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The buying cost is fixed, and no buyer pays for our comfort.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
Matthew Fogel’s screenplay, which mostly pays lavish fan service to its inspiration, also weaves in a few emotional elements.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
The lunar event’s rosy name instead pays tribute to the early spring bloom of Phlox subulata.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
That money pays for rent, child care, and groceries, helping local businesses earn sales tax revenue for the city.
—Richard Cordray, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Not everyone pays for Prime Video and Netflix, while others have cut the cord and don’t have cable.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Lower doses also mean lower spending — both for the patient (who is responsible for co-pays) and CMS.
—Mark J. Ratain, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
That’s why the insurance marketplace to ensure there were no co-pays on routine office visits, age-appropriate health screenings or vaccines.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Enrollees in this form of coverage face no premiums, co-pays or out-of-pocket costs.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
Urgent care usually has higher co-pays than a regular office visit, but will not be as expensive or take as long as an emergency room.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
However, Myers could owe much more in out-of-pocket costs due to $80 co-pays and an $8,000 deductible.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
While Medicaid covers it in Colorado, commercial plans may charge co-pays.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Urgent care visits typically require insurance co-pays or out-of-pocket costs; these costs are generally higher than regular doctor visits but generally lower than the ER.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
Austin also pays its top officials more money with a few notable exceptions.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
On average, the federal government pays roughly 70% of the total cost of the overarching Medicaid program in Idaho, which includes the expansion.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Springsteen pays tribute to 'maestro' Prince But the weighty undertones of the show were well-balanced with comparatively lighthearted selections that provided an escape from the intensity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The buying cost is fixed, and no buyer pays for our comfort.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
Matthew Fogel’s screenplay, which mostly pays lavish fan service to its inspiration, also weaves in a few emotional elements.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
The lunar event’s rosy name instead pays tribute to the early spring bloom of Phlox subulata.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
That money pays for rent, child care, and groceries, helping local businesses earn sales tax revenue for the city.
—Richard Cordray, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Not everyone pays for Prime Video and Netflix, while others have cut the cord and don’t have cable.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Additionally, 80% said all health care costs -- including premiums, deductibles, co-pays or coinsurance -- are higher.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Lower doses also mean lower spending — both for the patient (who is responsible for co-pays) and CMS.
—Mark J. Ratain, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
That’s why the insurance marketplace to ensure there were no co-pays on routine office visits, age-appropriate health screenings or vaccines.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Enrollees in this form of coverage face no premiums, co-pays or out-of-pocket costs.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
Urgent care usually has higher co-pays than a regular office visit, but will not be as expensive or take as long as an emergency room.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
However, Myers could owe much more in out-of-pocket costs due to $80 co-pays and an $8,000 deductible.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
While Medicaid covers it in Colorado, commercial plans may charge co-pays.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Urgent care visits typically require insurance co-pays or out-of-pocket costs; these costs are generally higher than regular doctor visits but generally lower than the ER.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays
Verb
-
Texas compensates for its lack of income tax revenue with a higher sales tax.—
System Process,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
-
When energy expenditure increases, the body often compensates by stimulating hunger.—
Claudio Villanueva,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Senate meets for an early pro-forma session Thursday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Money meets group ideals as the Moon moves through your 2nd House of Resources and squares wise Jupiter in your 11th House of Friendship.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Marty is self-absorbed, forgetful, doesn’t much like people and spends hours online looking for advice about how to be a handyman.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The first two will be built in Finland while the company spends between $700 million to $1 billion to renovate the shipyards in the ports of Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
University of Bath researchers note that this process yields CO₂ and water only (compatible with concrete).—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This simple step yields a smooth, compact poached egg.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wade now will join the renegade row of coaches at LSU, which also employs football rapscallion Lane Kiffin and women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The worker, who didn’t want her name used because she was not authorized to speak with reporters, has been doing this all without a paycheck, because a partial federal shutdown has halted funding to the agency that employs her, the Department of Homeland Security.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Santa Clara’s salaries for sheriff, medical examiner, county assessor, budget director and head of IT were also all higher than Mecklenburg’s as of 2024.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
-
If salaries alone are any indication, demand for the best of the best talent has never been higher.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Miami-Dade’s then-program administrator, Cristina Reboredo Leon, streamlined the process by having the Alliance for Aging — a county program that oversees such payments — expedite the monthly subsidies.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The recommendations represent adjustments to the second year of the two-year budget for a wide variety of state expenses that range from the salaries of Superior Court judges to Medicaid payments for elderly nursing home patients.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Creature repays the favor by using his strength to free the ship from its icy prison.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The city repays the bondholders over time, plus interest, using property taxes.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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