1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received
we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment
rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to hire
to provide with a paying job
pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in salary
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services
it's difficult to support two children on her pay
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in payment
something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services
we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of pay
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Every investment in children’s mental health pays extraordinary dividends — in stronger families, more successful schools, and a healthier community.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
That means expanding care to children under age 3, increasing pay for the child care workforce, and building a universal system that reaches every family, not just the lowest earners, or those lucky enough to win a lottery.
—Reshma Saujani, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay
Verb
Companies are currently paying a 10% universal U.S. tariff that Trump imposed on imports from some 180 nations.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Every investment in children’s mental health pays extraordinary dividends — in stronger families, more successful schools, and a healthier community.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Noun
Actors who receive pay for playing a military serviceperson and homeless people could not be charged.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
That means expanding care to children under age 3, increasing pay for the child care workforce, and building a universal system that reaches every family, not just the lowest earners, or those lucky enough to win a lottery.
—Reshma Saujani, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
-
Despite some backsliding, the EU still holds to its goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, by cutting greenhouse gases and compensating for any remaining emissions.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
4 July 2025
-
In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Japanese government officials have met with their U.S. counterparts seven times since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's initial meeting with Trump at the White House in February, the Japanese government official said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
-
As Southeast Asian foreign ministers met in Kuala Lumpur on July 10-11, U.S tariff issues hovered over them like a menace.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Until 2023, Horgan spent 14 years defending insurance companies for the firms Banker, Lopez, Gassler and Pennington P.A. Horgan approved levying court fees and costs against policyholders in nine cases, including five that dropped their claims before their hearings commenced.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
12 July 2025
-
Taken together, this signals that tech and media behemoths are still betting that consumers will be willing to spend hundreds, if not thousands, to experience concerts, movies and sporting events beyond the confines of a traditional screen.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
During his career, 247Sports states Moore had yielded just 18 catches on 36 targets for an impressive 50% clip.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 July 2025
-
That said, there are signs that state and national efforts to address the overdose crisis may be yielding early results.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
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To produce these communications, the House also hired a video producer at $115,000 a year, according to public records.—
Mary Jo Pitzl,
AZCentral.com,
13 July 2025
-
With less than a month before school begins, Gary Community School Corp. staffers made one thing clear during Thursday’s school board meeting – the district is hiring.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
On the other hand, the club also intends to bring salaries and fees down to a more sustainable level.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Raise salaries, diminish contractual obligations to teach, include the expenses of laboratory instruction and add the depreciation of expensive buildings — all factors in the sciences — and tuition becomes wholly inadequate to cover even the cost of instruction.—
Clifford Ando,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
In the four years since NIL payments began in 2021, collectives affiliated with specific schools have made hundreds of millions in deals with athletes just like those the CSC described in its examples.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
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More: Car buyers set a record with more than $1,000-a-month car payments in Q2 Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Borrowers must typically repay their loans under an IDR plan while working in qualifying nonprofit or government employment on a full-time basis to receive PSLF credit toward loan forgiveness.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
In the case of a default, the deal called for Grubbs to repay investors their principle plus 18% interest.—
Alexandria Burris,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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