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
Examples of pay in a Sentence
Verb (1)
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
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
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Lionel Messi, who met the pope in 2013, paid tribute to on the social network X, posting a picture of the pope accepting an olive tree from him.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Dr. Alissa Chen, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
Some states have introduced strict labor laws around things like pay transparency, mandatory benefits, retirement programs, and worker classification.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for pay
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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Verb
In the next bracket up, 24%, most couples are also paying a 3.8% investment tax, for a combined federal rate of 27.8%.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Lionel Messi, who met the pope in 2013, paid tribute to on the social network X, posting a picture of the pope accepting an olive tree from him.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
These changes could improve staff retention, especially if salaries achieve pay parity with kindergarten teachers.
—Dr. Alissa Chen, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
Some states have introduced strict labor laws around things like pay transparency, mandatory benefits, retirement programs, and worker classification.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Other plans have patients pay until a deductible is reached before a co-pay kicks in.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for pay
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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