pay

¹

[ pey ]

verb (used with object)

, paid or ( Obsolete except ) payed, pay·ing.

1. to settle (a debt, obligation, etc.), as by transferring money or goods, or by doing something:

   Please pay your bill.

   Synonyms: liquidate, discharge

2. to give over (a certain amount of money) in exchange for something:

   He paid twenty dollars for the shirt.

3. to transfer money as compensation or recompense for work done or services rendered; to satisfy the claims of (a person, organization, etc.), as by giving money due:

   He paid me for my work.

   Synonyms: indemnify, reimburse, reward

4. to defray (cost or expense).
5. to give compensation for.
6. to yield a recompense or return to; be profitable to:

   Your training will pay you well in the future.

7. to yield as a return:

   The stock paid six percent last year.

8. to requite, as for good, harm, or an offense:

   How can I pay her for her kindness and generosity?

9. to give or render (attention, respects, compliments, etc.), as if due or fitting.
10. to make (a call, visit, etc.).
11. to suffer in retribution:

    You'll pay the penalty for your stubbornness!

12. Nautical. to let (a ship) fall off to leeward.

verb (used without object)

paidpaying

1. to transfer money, goods, etc., as in making a purchase or settling a debt.
2. to discharge a debt or obligation.
3. to yield a return, profit, or advantage; be worthwhile:

   It pays to be courteous.

4. to give compensation, as for damage or loss sustained.
5. to suffer or be punished for something; atone:

   The murderer paid with his life.

noun

1. the act of paying or being paid; payment.
2. wages, salary, or a stipend.

   Synonyms: allowance, income, honorarium, fee, emolument, remuneration

3. a person with reference to solvency or reputation for meeting obligations:

   The bank regards him as good pay.

4. paid employment:

   One of the army officers was actually in the pay of the enemy.

5. reward or punishment; requital.
6. a rock stratum from which petroleum is obtained.

adjective

1. requiring subscribed or monthly payment for use or service:

   With pay TV, you can watch hit movies from the comfort of your own home.

2. operable or accessible on deposit of a coin or coins:

   Do you have any change for the pay toilet?

3. of or relating to payment.

verb phrase

1. to suffer or be punished for:

   The corrupt cop finally pays for his sins when the gang betrays him.

2. payback ( def ).
3. 1. to pay fully.
   2. to pay on demand:

      The gangsters used threats of violence to force the shopkeepers to pay up.

4. 1. to pay (part of the total price) at the time of purchase, with the promise to pay the balance in installments:

      On this plan you pay only ten percent down.

   2. to pay off or back; amortize:

      The company's debt is being paid down rapidly.

5. payoff ( def ).
6. payout ( def ).

pay

²

[ pey ]

verb (used with object)

, Nautical.

, payed, pay·ing.

1. to coat or cover (seams, a ship's bottom, etc.) with pitch, tar, or the like.

pay

¹

/ peɪ /

verb

1. tr nautical to caulk (the seams of a wooden vessel) with pitch or tar

pay

²

/ peɪ /

verb

1. to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something

   he paid his creditors

2. whenintr, often foll by for to give (money) to (a person) in return for goods or services

   they pay by the hour

   they pay their workers well

3. to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefit

   it pays one to be honest

4. tr to give or bestow (a compliment, regards, attention, etc)
5. tr to make (a visit or call)
6. introften foll byfor to give compensation or make amends
7. tr to yield a return of

   the shares pay 15 per cent

8. to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay back

   he paid for the insult with a blow

9. tr; past tense and past participle paid or payed nautical to allow (a vessel) to make leeway
10. informal.
    to acknowledge or accept (something) as true, just, etc
11. pay one's way
    1. to contribute one's share of expenses
    2. to remain solvent without outside help

noun

1. 1. money given in return for work or services; a salary or wage
   2. ( as modifier )

      pay claim

      a pay slip

2. paid employment (esp in the phrase in the pay of )
3. modifier requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during use

   a pay toilet

   a pay phone

4. modifier rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or worked

   pay gravel

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English paien, payen, from Old French paier, paiier, from Medieval Latin pācāre “to satisfy, settle (a debt),” Latin: “to impose a settlement on”; peace

Origin of pay²

First recorded in 1610–20; from Middle French poier, Old French peier, from Latin picāre “to smear with pitch,” derivative of pix (stem pic- ) pitch ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay¹

C17: from Old French peier, from Latin picāre, from pix pitch

Origin of pay²

C12: from Old French payer, from Latin pācāre to appease (a creditor), from pāx peace

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pay as you go,
   1. to pay for (goods, services, etc.) at the time of purchase, as opposed to buying on credit.
   2. to spend no more than income permits; keep out of debt.
   3. to pay income tax by regular deductions from one's salary or wages.
2. pay it forward, to express gratitude for kindness or good fortune by doing good for someone else:

   People were very helpful to us, so we want to pay it forward to other entrepreneurs just starting out.

3. pay one's / its way,
   1. to pay one's portion of shared expenses.
   2. to yield a return on one's investment sufficient to repay one's expenses:

      It will take time for the restaurant to begin paying its way.

More idioms and phrases containing pay

• (pay the piper) call the tune
• crime does not pay
• devil to pay
• hell to pay
• lip service, pay
• rob Peter to pay Paul
• you get what you pay for

Synonym Study

Pay, wage or wages, salary, stipend are terms for amounts of money or equivalent benefits, usually given at a regular rate or at regular intervals, in return for services. Pay is the general term: His pay went up every year. Wage usually designates the pay given at an hourly, daily, or weekly rate, often for manual or semiskilled work; wages usually means the cumulative amount paid at regular intervals for such work: an hourly wage; weekly wages. Salary designates a fixed, periodic payment for regular work or services, usually computed on a monthly or yearly basis: an annual salary paid in twelve equal monthly installments. Stipend designates a periodic payment, either as a professional salary or, more commonly, as a salary in return for special services or as a grant in support of creative or scholarly work: an annual stipend for work as a consultant; a stipend to cover living expenses.

Example Sentences

She was then duped into believing they had deposited money into her account, and she needed to pay it back in cash and gift cards from Best Buy and Target.

From Los Angeles Times

"All the while, you are paying out lots of money for the privilege."

From BBC

Under the Biden administration, America was willing to help Ukraine pay to keep its freedom.

From Los Angeles Times

The state does not help counties pay for elections staff or voting equipment even as it issues more mandates, she said, making local officials’ jobs harder and uneven, depending on where they live.

From Los Angeles Times

In response, Hegseth confirmed the financial settlement, saying through his lawyer that he had agreed to pay the woman to protect his job at Fox.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allowance
• compensation
• fee
• income
• payment
• profit
• reimbursement
• remuneration
• reward
• salary
• stipend
• wage