wage

noun

\ ˈwāj

Definition of wage

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a payment usually of money for labor or services usually according to contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis —often used in plural

b wages plural : the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production

2 : recompense, reward —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction the wages of sin is death — Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)

wage

verb

waged; waging

Definition of wage (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to engage in or carry on wage war wage a campaign

intransitive verb

: to be in process of occurring the riot waged for several hours — Amer. Guide Series: Md.

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Examples of wage in a Sentence

Noun Both of them make decent wages. The table and chairs cost two weeks' wages. The company offers competitive wages and good benefits. The company gave workers a four percent wage increase this year. Verb They waged a guerrilla war against the government. Local activists are waging a campaign to end homelessness in the region.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Walmart shares plunged 6% Thursday morning after the big-box retailer announced a number of investments to spur growth, including spending billions on raising its average U.S. hourly wage to more than $15 per hour. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, "Walmart shares fall 6% after pledging to raise its average hourly wage to $15," 18 Feb. 2021 Research from Rutgers University found that as many as 57 percent of domestic care workers in New Jersey may have been victims of wage theft. — Jake Bittle, The New Republic, "Overworked, Underpaid, and Cutting Corners: The Crisis in Home Health Care," 9 Feb. 2021 The Senate by voice vote adopted an amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, opposed to raising the wage during the pandemic. — Chron, "Senate approves budget bill as Harris casts tie-breaker vote," 5 Feb. 2021 The Senate by voice vote adopted an amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, opposed to raising the wage during the pandemic. — Josh Boak, Anchorage Daily News, "Senate passes budget bill fast-tracking $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package," 5 Feb. 2021 Though Becerra became known for high-profile suits against the Trump administration, many of which were joined by Minnesota, Ellison said his office would remain focused on issues like consumer protection and wage theft. — Stephen Montemayor Star Tribune, Star Tribune, "Keith Ellison at center of pressing issues in second year as attorney general," 20 Dec. 2020 The language would protect corporations from enforcement and lawsuits related to a host of employment laws, including wage theft, notification of employees ahead of layoffs and discrimination. — Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, "Republicans’ proposed COVID liability shield could undo California worker protections, advocates warn," 15 Dec. 2020 Lacy enlists an all-female employment law firm, LVBH, and sues the Raiders for wage theft in a class-action lawsuit. — Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, "Freep Film Festival virtual festival kicks off Wednesday. Here's how to watch.," 30 Nov. 2020 Amarjit and Balwinder Mann were arrested on charges of labor human trafficking, witness intimidation and wage theft involving a total of four victims, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced Monday. — Jordan Culver, USA TODAY, "'Inhumane exploitation': California store owners forced man to work long hours, sleep in closet, bathe in mop bucket, DA's office says," 10 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb If the measure makes it onto the May ballot, the San Antonio Police Officers Association will wage an all-out war to defeat it, churning out ads and turning out conservative voters who aren’t likely to be kind to the mayor. — Joshua Fechter, San Antonio Express-News, "In mayoral rematch between Nirenberg and Brockhouse, San Antonio's pandemic recovery and police reform will take center stage," 31 Jan. 2021 Interior Secretary Olga Sánchez Cordero said the court ruling applied only to a 2020 executive order, and said the administration would wage a new court battle over another bill the president sent to Congress this month. — Christopher Sherman, Star Tribune, "Mexico vows to press ahead to favor state-owned utility," 4 Feb. 2021 The tax cuts enacted to wage war on big government accelerated the trend toward income inequality without doing much to create economic growth. — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, "The End of the 40-Year War on Government," 21 Jan. 2021 Misogyny in the Capitol attacks indicates that rioters, both male and female, did not simply wage an assault on democratic institutions. — Mona Lena Krook, The Conversation, "Misogyny in the Capitol: Among the insurrectionists, a lot of angry men who don’t like women," 13 Jan. 2021 The hospital wouldn’t be able to wage its COVID-19 battle without the hundreds of leaders — not to mention thousands of caregivers and support staff — who oversee operations that are just as critical as Rowley’s. — Sharon Grigsby, Dallas News, "Spend a 20-hour day with the Parkland executive nurse juggling Dallas’ COVID surge and her own family," 6 Dec. 2020 Many city employees are represented by unions, and some agreed to furloughs or wage freezes under terms that vary depending on their union. — Liz Navratil, Star Tribune, "Minneapolis mayor, some on City Council will donate raises," 15 Jan. 2021 Rather than wage direct war against sitting U.S. representatives, Trump is accused of using language to motivate others to do so. — Kurt Braddock, The Conversation, "At impeachment hearing, lawmakers will deliberate over a deadly weapon used in the attack on Capitol Hill – President Trump’s words," 13 Jan. 2021 During the rally, Trump spent some time delivering his usual campaign stump speech, warning baselessly that Democrats will adopt socialist policies, throw open the border, end private health insurance and wage a war on Christians. — Michael D. Shear, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump, in Georgia before Tuesday’s election, can’t let go of the last one," 4 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.