paid
ˈpād 
also in sense 7 payed; paying
also in sense 7 payed; paying
1
a
: 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
2
a
: 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
4
a
: 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
6
a
: 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
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.
1
: something paid for a purpose and especially as a salary or wage : remuneration
2
a
: 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
4
a
: ore or a natural deposit that yields metal and especially gold in profitable amounts
b
: an oil-yielding stratum or zone
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
Synonyms
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
The feature was previously restricted only to users who paid for OpenAI’s $20-a-month subscription service, ChatGPT Plus.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023
That was equal to about $46 million in royalties in 2022, out of $9.27 billion paid out in total.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2023
Similarly, nothing in the code requires Alito to recuse himself from cases involving Paul Singer, who, in 2008, paid for Alito’s private jet to Alaska.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023
Binance itself also pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines and restitution to the government, according to federal authorities.
—Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023
During his questioning of Sweeney, Google lawyer Kravis laid out the 30% commissions that Epic pays to Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo for transactions on the PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles without complaint while still raking in billions of dollars in profit from those platforms.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Even with a global slowdown in deal making, the firm plans to continue allocating some of the £595 million ($743 million) that Deutsche Bank AG’s DWS Infrastructure paid last year to acquire Stagecoach in an all-cash transaction.
—Ben Stupples, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2023
As part of the new proposal, streaming services will pay bonuses to shows that reach a certain level of success, bonuses that the union estimates will be about $40 million per year.
—Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2023
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Before the deal, union leaders crafted a strike pay plan and picket lines across the Strip.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Elo-Rivera suggested last January that San Diego lobby the state to lift a 50-year-old ban on pay toilets so the city could generate revenue to pay for more downtown public restrooms.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
The article, published by progressive U.K. outlet The New Statesman, argues that CEOs’ steep pay is an unsustainable cost and even unfair when considering the day-to-day slack their executive assistants pick up—a role that could itself be automated.
—Trey Williams, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs' reputation, and seeking a pay day.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
The companies agreed to dramatically raise pay for top-scale assembly plant workers, with increases and cost-of-living adjustments that would translate into 33% wage gains.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2023
After two years at Hayward, Fitzgerald finally earned his pay and received more responsibilities.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023
As Hollywood on Thursday began rushing back to production and stars again hit red carpets, many were surely still nursing wounds from a bitter feud with the studios, even after a deal that won actors a hefty boost to minimum pay and protections over the use of artificial intelligence.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2023
Benjamin Ryan, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023
In August, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, the Diabetes Leadership Council, and the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition filed a lawsuit challenging the federal rule that allows co-pay accumulators.
—Katie Wedell, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2022
The hope is that CNN+ will serve as a gateway to a post-pay TV world, connecting the brand’s familiar red and white letters to a generation of viewers who are growing up without cable.
—Stephen Battaglio Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2022
The drug is so expensive at the wholesale level that private insurers place it in the highest co-pay categories; some won’t allow doctors to prescribe it without their prior approval, further narrowing patients’ access.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2022
More than 775 people have already signed up for the company's pre-pay membership, Precompose.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE.com, 17 June 2021
Or an expansion of co-pay coupons to Medicare, where they’re now banned?
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Oct. 2020
See More
Verb
Our producers are planning to do paid premiers on Nov. 30 in U.S.A., which is not usual in the Hindi film industry.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
The feature was previously restricted only to users who paid for OpenAI’s $20-a-month subscription service, ChatGPT Plus.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023
That was equal to about $46 million in royalties in 2022, out of $9.27 billion paid out in total.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2023
Similarly, nothing in the code requires Alito to recuse himself from cases involving Paul Singer, who, in 2008, paid for Alito’s private jet to Alaska.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023
Binance itself also pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines and restitution to the government, according to federal authorities.
—Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023
During his questioning of Sweeney, Google lawyer Kravis laid out the 30% commissions that Epic pays to Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo for transactions on the PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles without complaint while still raking in billions of dollars in profit from those platforms.
—Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Even with a global slowdown in deal making, the firm plans to continue allocating some of the £595 million ($743 million) that Deutsche Bank AG’s DWS Infrastructure paid last year to acquire Stagecoach in an all-cash transaction.
—Ben Stupples, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2023
As part of the new proposal, streaming services will pay bonuses to shows that reach a certain level of success, bonuses that the union estimates will be about $40 million per year.
—Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2023
Noun
Nissan said its 9,000 U.S. workers would get raises of about 10% and would end a two-tiered pay system.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023
Before the deal, union leaders crafted a strike pay plan and picket lines across the Strip.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Elo-Rivera suggested last January that San Diego lobby the state to lift a 50-year-old ban on pay toilets so the city could generate revenue to pay for more downtown public restrooms.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
The article, published by progressive U.K. outlet The New Statesman, argues that CEOs’ steep pay is an unsustainable cost and even unfair when considering the day-to-day slack their executive assistants pick up—a role that could itself be automated.
—Trey Williams, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs' reputation, and seeking a pay day.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
The companies agreed to dramatically raise pay for top-scale assembly plant workers, with increases and cost-of-living adjustments that would translate into 33% wage gains.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2023
After two years at Hayward, Fitzgerald finally earned his pay and received more responsibilities.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023
As Hollywood on Thursday began rushing back to production and stars again hit red carpets, many were surely still nursing wounds from a bitter feud with the studios, even after a deal that won actors a hefty boost to minimum pay and protections over the use of artificial intelligence.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2023
Adjective
According to the American Diabetes Association, 22 states and Washington D.C. have imposed insulin co-pay caps ranging from $25 to $100 for 30-day supplies, which some would like to expand nationwide.
—Benjamin Ryan, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023
In August, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, the Diabetes Leadership Council, and the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition filed a lawsuit challenging the federal rule that allows co-pay accumulators.
—Katie Wedell, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2022
The hope is that CNN+ will serve as a gateway to a post-pay TV world, connecting the brand’s familiar red and white letters to a generation of viewers who are growing up without cable.
—Stephen Battaglio Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2022
The drug is so expensive at the wholesale level that private insurers place it in the highest co-pay categories; some won’t allow doctors to prescribe it without their prior approval, further narrowing patients’ access.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2022
More than 775 people have already signed up for the company's pre-pay membership, Precompose.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE.com, 17 June 2021
Or an expansion of co-pay coupons to Medicare, where they’re now banned?
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Oct. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1), Noun, and Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French paier, from Latin pacare to pacify, from pac-, pax peace
Verb (2)
obsolete French peier, from Latin picare, from pic-, pix pitch — more at pitch
First Known Use
Verb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1610, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of pay was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing pay
Dictionary Entries Near pay
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
pay
1 of 3 verb
paid
ˈpād
also in sense 6 payed; paying
also in sense 6 payed; paying
1
: to give (as money) in return for services received or for something bought
pay the taxi driver
pay for a ticket
2
: to give what is owed
pay a tax
3
: to get even with
pay someone back for an insult
4
: to give or offer freely
pay a compliment
pay attention
5
a
: to return value or profit to
it pays to drive carefully
b
: to give as a return
a bank account paying eight percent
6
: to make slack and allow to run out
pay out a rope
payer
noun
ˈpā-ər
also payor
ˈpā-ər,
pā-ˈȯ(ə)r
pay
2 of 3 noun1
a
: the act of paying
b
: the state of being paid or employed for money
2
: something paid
especially
: wage entry 2, salary
pay
3 of 3 adjective1
: containing or leading to something valuable
2
: having a coin slot for receiving money for use
More from Merriam-Webster on pay
Nglish: Translation of pay for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pay for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pay
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