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.Synonyms
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
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Guehi, given his impressive progress at Palace and rise to become a regular starter for England, projects on his next contract to potentially be one of the higher earners in the first-team wage structure that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have implemented in the last two years.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
The annual aid had been about $3 billion, but Mr. Biden increased that amount after Israel began waging war in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wage 
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Noun
In 2024, wages beyond $168,600 were not taxed for Social Security.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Guehi, given his impressive progress at Palace and rise to become a regular starter for England, projects on his next contract to potentially be one of the higher earners in the first-team wage structure that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have implemented in the last two years.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
Less than 36 hours after Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Newsom called a special session of the Legislature to give the California Department of Justice an extra $25 million to wage legal battles against the incoming administration.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
The annual aid had been about $3 billion, but Mr. Biden increased that amount after Israel began waging war in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas.
—Edward Wong, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wage
Dictionary Entries Near wage
Cite this Entry
“Wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage. Accessed 15 Jan. 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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