pay one's dues
phrase
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
Cite this Entry
“Pay one's dues.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20one%27s%20dues. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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