1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received
we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment
rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to hire
to provide with a paying job
pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in salary
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services
it's difficult to support two children on her pay
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in payment
something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services
we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pay
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
The money was being used to pay for projects in the region like the elimination of malaria and reducing maternal mortality.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
But the backbone of the agency — its administrative and support teams at headquarters and regional offices — could be sidelined or forced to work without pay until the standoff ends.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay
Verb
Medicaid enrollees already pay little or nothing for prescriptions, so MFN pricing may save the government money more than patients.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
The money was being used to pay for projects in the region like the elimination of malaria and reducing maternal mortality.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
In a shutdown, anything deemed nonessential is put on hold, so Americans could experience delays in certain services and hundreds of thousands of federal workers will go without pay.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
But the backbone of the agency — its administrative and support teams at headquarters and regional offices — could be sidelined or forced to work without pay until the standoff ends.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
-
And claims involving deaths would be compensated with a higher amount.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
-
If teams are on a bus or train that's experiencing difficulties, unfortunately, they aren't given a boost to compensate for the breakdown.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sarah and Chris Cooper, innkeepers of the Margin Street Inn, explained the balance of life in a town where global celebrity meets generations of tradition.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Hop on a train ride, meet cute animals at a petting zoo, play games and create crafts.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That year, the board hired Pat Gelsinger, an engineer who had spent 30 years at Intel before leaving it for other companies and eventually running VMware.—
Lila MacLellan,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Elordi spent up to 10 hours per session in the makeup chair and worked 18-hour days in full prosthetics.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sure, the defense was leaky and yielded the tying touchdown with 36 seconds remaining in regulation, a fourth-and-goal conversion from the 11 - Tommy Castellanos hit a diving Randy Pittman in the left corner of the end zone.—
David Teel,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
-
After investigating the crash, the Washington County Sheriff's Office determined Salomon either failed to stop at the stop sign or failed to yield, cauing the victim's vehicle to strike Salomon's vehicle's driver's side door.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While talent and hard work opened doors, Nayyar turned to a personal tactic that his father taught him, to make a lasting impression on hiring managers—or in his case, casting directors, producers, and Hollywood stars.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But he was hired by the Yankees in 1949 and immediately led them to five straight World Series championships — a record that almost certainly never will be broken and launched him toward tying Joe McCarthy for the most in baseball history with seven.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Reynolds’ annual salary is more than $278,000.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The decision followed months of criticism and over his salary and decision-making.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Studies estimate that about 5 million Americans would not renew coverage through Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges, such as Covered California, if these payments are not renewed before the end of the year.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
-
All Social Security benefit payments will continue as normal.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Other funds will come from MTA debt sales repaid with revenue from a congestion pricing toll that charges motorists to drive on Manhattan’s busiest streets.—
Gregory Korte,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Any unemployment benefits received will likely need to be repaid if workers receive backpay after the shutdown ends.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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