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

The three judges unanimously agreed that it would be illegal for the lender to pay any commission to the dealer without the informed consent of the buyer.

From BBC

The National Insurance rise, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Budget last month, will see the tax employers pay on employees' earnings rise from 13.8% to 15% from April 2025.

From BBC

There is a warning that a 3% offer would be "particularly difficult to defend if awards to other pay groups are materially higher".

From BBC

Several officers said in anonymous declarations earlier this year that they were forced to add extra security at their homes and pay for online services to scrub their identities from internet searches.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s unlikely that Trump will pay attention to the Pentagon’s operations against jihadists there or in the West African Sahel, unless there is a high-profile incident with American casualties.

From BBC

Related Words

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

More About Pay

what is a basic definition of pay?

Pay means to give money to someone to settle a debt or obligation. Pay also means to give money in exchange for something. Pay is also a person’s salary or wages. Pay has many other senses as a verb and a noun.

Pay means to settle a bill or a debt, such as paying the check at a restaurant or paying your electric bill. Sometimes you can pay in advance, meaning you pay for the product or service before you receive it. The past tense of the verb pay is paid.

Real-life examples: Homeowners pay their mortgages. Citizens pay taxes to the government. College students often have to pay student loans.

Used in a sentence: I always keep enough money in the bank to pay my rent on time.

Pay also means to give someone money for a product or service.

Real-life examples: A person might pay $20 for some old shirts. A parent may pay a store $50 for a gift for their child. A rich person may pay $5 million for a mansion.

Used in a sentence: She paid the actor $5 for an autographed picture. 

Pay is also the money a person earns in exchange for their labor. This sense of pay is a synonym of salary or earnings.

Real-life examples: When you have a job, you earn your pay. A doctor has a much higher pay than a teenager working a part-time job. Workers often go on strike or negotiate with the company to try and get a better pay.

Used in a sentence: He may not like his job that much, but he never complains about the pay.

Where does pay come from?

The first records of pay come from around 1150. It ultimately comes from the Medieval Latin pācāre, meaning “to satisfy” or  “to settle (a debt).”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to pay?

• payer (noun)
• payment (noun)

What are some synonyms for pay?

• compensate
• grant 
• settle
• salary
• income

What are some words that share a root or word element with pay? 

• peace
• pacify
• payload
• payback
• paycheck
• pay for
• pay-as-you-go

What are some words that often get used in discussing pay?

• debt
• bill
• honest
• attention
• compliments
• respect

How is pay used in real life?

Pay is a very common word that is most often used to mean to give money in return for something.

My favorite childhood memory is not having to work to pay bills.

— Wynter_Nomad (@Wynter_Nomad) November 30, 2020

Debating if I should pay $200 to get my phone fixed or just pay $375 to upgrade early 🤔

— Asia (@ThisIs_Asiaa) December 1, 2020

I would pay off my credit cards and bump my credit so I can get a new car and a down payment for a mortgage.

— Rebecca (@Rebecca66571046) December 23, 2020

 

 

Try using pay!

Is pay used correctly in the following sentence?

She is willing to pay a lot of money for the newest model of smartphone.