pay Meaning & Definition
What Does Pay Mean?
Pay is a verb that means to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered. It is also used to mean to engage for money. As a noun, it means something paid for a purpose and especially as a salary or wage. As an adjective, it means containing or leading to something precious or valuable.
Quick Facts About Pay
| Part of speech | verb, noun, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈpā/ |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | yield, give and make up |
| Antonyms | default, default on and stiff |
| Plural | pays |
| Verb forms | pays, paying, paid |
Pay Definition (Verb)
- to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered
paid the pizza deliverer
- to engage for money : hire
You couldn't pay me to do that. / paid a teenager to mow his lawn
- to give in return for goods or service
pay wages
- to discharge indebtedness for : settle
pay a bill
- to make a disposal or transfer of (money)
paid a few dollars weekly into a savings account
- to give or forfeit in expiation or retribution
pay the penalty
- to make compensation see compensation for
His trouble was well paid in the end.
- to requite according to what is deserved
pay them back
- to give, offer, or make freely or as fitting
pay attention / pay your respects
- to return value or profit to
it pays you to stay open
- to bring in as a return
an investment paying five percent
- to slacken (something, such as a rope) and allow to run out
- to discharge a debt or obligation
I'll pay when I have the money.
- to be worth the expense or effort
crime doesn't pay
- to suffer the consequences of an act
He paid for his crime.
Pay as a Noun
- something paid for a purpose and especially as a salary or wage : remuneration
- the act or fact of paying or being paid
- the status of being paid by an employer : employ
- a person viewed with respect to reliability or promptness in paying debts or bills
- ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and especially gold in profitable amounts
- an oil-yielding stratum or zone
Pay as an Adjective
- containing or leading to something precious or valuable
- equipped with a coin slot for receiving a fee for use
a pay telephone
- requiring payment
Verb
- to coat with a waterproof composition
Synonyms of Pay
Antonyms of Pay
Pay in a Sentence
pay cash or pay in cash, pay by credit/debit card
pay in dollars/euros, etc.
How much will the job pay?
She is paying him to clean the place up.
He doesn't have money, but he pays rent in chores and housework.
He was paid off the books and in kind where possible.
I pay a portion of each paycheck into a savings account.
to pay compensation, to pay a fine
She offered to pay the bill.
He is paying his debt to society.
He was allowed to go as soon as the kidnappers were paid.
It didn't pay him to keep the store open any more.
Crime doesn’t pay.
It will pay to wait.
Those investments paid for her college education.
to pay dividends; to pay interest
You will get paid from this investment yearly.
to pay attention, to pay tribute, to pay a visit
He paid for his fun in the sun with a terrible sunburn.
Many employers have rules designed to keep employees from comparing their pays.
pay toilet
pay television
he paid her off the books and in kind where possible
he has paid his debt to society
to pay attention
crime doesn’t pay
He was allowed to go as soon as he paid.
I'll pay that.
paid the pizza deliverer
You couldn't pay me to do that.
paid a teenager to mow his lawn
pay wages
pay a bill
paid a few dollars weekly into a savings account
pay the penalty
His trouble was well paid in the end.
pay them back
pay attention
pay your respects
it pays you to stay open
an investment paying five percent
I'll pay when I have the money.
crime doesn't pay
He paid for his crime.
a pay telephone
we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave
you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue
rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert
an investment paying six percent
pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer
it's difficult to support two children on her pay
we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in
You couldn't pay me to do that. / paid a teenager to mow his lawn
pay attention / pay your respects
Word Forms & Grammar
paid
payed
pay·ing
paid back
pay
pay back
paying
paying back
pays
pays back
pay (third-person singular simple present pays, present participle paying, simple past and past participle paid or (obsolete) payed)
pay (countable and uncountable, plural pays)
pay (not comparable)
pay (third-person singular simple present pays, present participle paying, simple past and past participle payed or paid)
Words That Rhyme With Pay
Origin of Pay
Origin 1: Middle English, from Anglo-French paier, from Latin pacare to pacify, from pac-, pax peace
Origin 2: see pay:1
Origin 3: obsolete French peier, from Latin picare, from pic-, pix pitch pitch
Origin 4: From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”). In this sense, displaced native Old English ġield (“pay”) and ġieldan (“to pay”), whence Modern English yield.
Origin 5: From Old French peier, from Latin picāre (“to cover with pitch”).
First Known Use
13th centuryt
14th century
1856
1610
How Do You Say Pay?
You say pay as /ˈpā/. It has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Pay
Is pay a verb or a noun?
Pay is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun and an adjective.
What is another word for pay?
Close synonyms of pay are yield, give and make up. See the full list of pay synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of pay?
Words opposite in meaning to pay are default, default on, stiff and repudiate.
What is the plural of pay?
The plural of pay is pays.
What is the past tense of pay?
The past tense of pay is paid. The present participle is paying.