pay

verb (1)

\ ˈpā

paid\ ˈpād

\ also in sense 7 payed; paying

Definition of pay

(Entry 1 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered paid the pizza deliverer

b : to engage for money : hire You couldn't pay me to do that. paid a teenager to mow his lawn

2a : to give in return for goods or service pay wages

b : to discharge indebtedness for : settle pay a bill

c : to make a disposal or transfer of (money) paid a few dollars weekly into a savings account

3 : to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution pay the penalty

4a : to make compensation (see compensation sense 2) for His trouble was well paid in the end.

b : to requite according to what is deserved pay them back

5 : to give, offer, or make freely or as fitting pay attention pay your respects

6a : to return value or profit to it pays you to stay open

b : to bring in as a return an investment paying five percent

7 : to slacken (something, such as a rope) and allow to run out —used with out paid out the rope as it jerked taut

intransitive verb

1 : to discharge a debt or obligation I'll pay when I have the money.

2 : to be worth the expense or effort crime doesn't pay

3 : to suffer the consequences of an act He paid for his crime.

pay one's dues

1 : to earn a right or position through experience, suffering, or hard work He's paid his dues and deserves a promotion.

2 or less commonly pay dues : pay sense intransitive 3

pay one's way or pay one's own way

: to pay one's share of expenses She took a part-time job to pay her own way through college.

pay the piper

: to bear the cost of something You have to do what they say because they are paying the piper.

pay through the nose

: to pay exorbitantly or dearly I found the perfect dress, but I had to pay through the nose for it.

pay

noun

Definition of pay (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : something paid for a purpose and especially as a salary or wage : remuneration

2a : the act or fact of paying or being paid

b : the status of being paid by an employer : employ

3 : a person viewed with respect to reliability or promptness in paying debts or bills

4a : ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and especially gold in profitable amounts

b : an oil-yielding stratum or zone

pay

adjective

Definition of pay (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : containing or leading to something precious or valuable

2 : equipped with a coin slot for receiving a fee for use a pay telephone

3 : requiring payment

pay

verb (2)

payed also paid; paying

Definition of pay (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

: to coat with a waterproof composition

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Verb (1)

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something. pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred. paid their bills compensate implies a making up for services rendered. an attorney well compensated for her services remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for. promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law. all creditors will be satisfied in full reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit. reimbursed employees for expenses indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare. indemnified the families of the dead miners repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount. repay a favor with a favor recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward. passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of pay in a Sentence

Noun

He has been suspended without pay pending the results of the investigation. Each pay period begins on the first of the month. Workers received a $4,000 pay increase. I took a significant pay cut when I took this job, but I think it was worth it.

pay

Definition of pay

Synonyms for pay

Choose the Right Synonym for pay

Examples of pay in a Sentence

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