1
a
: 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)
Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
waged; waging
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
: to be in process of occurring
… the riot waged for several hours …—Amer. Guide Series: Md.
Amer. Guide Series: Md.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
Irina Anghel, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Muller said Implats, which relies on Zimbabwe for more than one third of its annual output, accepts the idea of the retention rule but noted that problems arise when the central bank cannot deliver the converted local currency on demand to pay wages, suppliers and other domestic expenses.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
To use a highfalutin film-theory term, Reign of Fire is totally bonkers, and Bale and co-star Matthew McConaughey have a blast playing survivors waging war against the beasts.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wage
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Noun
The survey showed permanent staff appointments continued to fall in February, but the pace of decline was the slowest since March 2023, and wage pressures eased as the pool of job-seekers continues to rise.
—Irina Anghel, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Muller said Implats, which relies on Zimbabwe for more than one third of its annual output, accepts the idea of the retention rule but noted that problems arise when the central bank cannot deliver the converted local currency on demand to pay wages, suppliers and other domestic expenses.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
Advertisement Oil and gas revenues fell from 45% of Russia's federal budget in 2021 to around 20% in 2025, as sanctions imposed by the international community aimed at limiting Moscow’s ability to wage war in Ukraine took effect.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
To use a highfalutin film-theory term, Reign of Fire is totally bonkers, and Bale and co-star Matthew McConaughey have a blast playing survivors waging war against the beasts.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wage
Cite this Entry
“Wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wage
1 of 2 verb
waged; waging
1
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
2
: to be in the process of occurring
the battle waged for hours
wage
2 of 2 noun1
: a payment for work or services usually calculated on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
2
singular or plural
: something given or received because of one's actions : reward
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