dues-paying

[ dooz-pey-ing, dyooz- ]

adjective

1. gaining experience, especially by hard and often unpleasant or uncongenial work:

   He spent his dues-paying years as a cocktail pianist.

noun

1. the act or process of gaining experience, especially slowly and laboriously:

   She had many years of dues-paying before her abilities were recognized.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dues-paying¹

First recorded in 1860–70

Example Sentences

The bill allows alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. to dues-paying members of private suites inside Intuit Dome, the $2-billion new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

From Los Angeles Times

The law allows alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. to dues-paying members of private suites inside the $2-billion, 17,700-seat new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

From Los Angeles Times

The bill, which was approved with little debate on the Senate floor Tuesday and now heads to the Assembly, would allow alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. to dues-paying members of private suites inside of Intuit Dome, the $2-billion, 17,700-seat new home of the Los Angeles Clippers that celebrated its grand opening this month.

From Los Angeles Times

After leaving the White House, Trump moved to his Mar-a-Lago waterfront club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is surrounded by doting paid staff and dues-paying members who have shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to be near him.

From Seattle Times

“As a dues-paying agent, they failed me, they failed all of my colleagues. Had they spent more time focusing on the trial and less time silencing women, maybe the outcome would have been different,” he said.

From Seattle Times