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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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of pay
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Every investment in children’s mental health pays extraordinary dividends — in stronger families, more successful schools, and a healthier community.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
That means expanding care to children under age 3, increasing pay for the child care workforce, and building a universal system that reaches every family, not just the lowest earners, or those lucky enough to win a lottery.
—Reshma Saujani, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay
Verb
Companies are currently paying a 10% universal U.S. tariff that Trump imposed on imports from some 180 nations.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Every investment in children’s mental health pays extraordinary dividends — in stronger families, more successful schools, and a healthier community.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Noun
Actors who receive pay for playing a military serviceperson and homeless people could not be charged.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
That means expanding care to children under age 3, increasing pay for the child care workforce, and building a universal system that reaches every family, not just the lowest earners, or those lucky enough to win a lottery.
—Reshma Saujani, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
-
Despite some backsliding, the EU still holds to its goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, by cutting greenhouse gases and compensating for any remaining emissions.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
4 July 2025
-
In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Deeper collaboration between military planners, drone manufacturers and battery developers to ensure new technologies meet operational needs.—
Siyu Huang,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
When looking to book the best hotels in Lisbon, you’re met with a myriad of enticing—albeit unconventional—options.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Chopra is well known for spending much of his career developing, teaching, writing about and disseminating such practices.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
The squad have spent the past week in nearby New York City, holed up in a hotel on affluent Fifth Avenue but occasionally allowed out to explore Manhattan between training sessions.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
That said, there are signs that state and national efforts to address the overdose crisis may be yielding early results.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
During his career, 247Sports states Moore had yielded just 18 catches on 36 targets for an impressive 50% clip.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
With less than a month before school begins, Gary Community School Corp. staffers made one thing clear during Thursday’s school board meeting – the district is hiring.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
-
The Sisters of Bon Secours – the nuns who ran the home from 1925 to 1961 – hired a consulting company that denied a mass grave altogether, saying there was no evidence children had been buried there.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
But using a trade exception, which allows a team to acquire a player in a trade even if their salary would otherwise put the team over the salary cap or the team is already over the salary cap, hard caps teams at the first apron.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
-
Just this year, Marner will collect $9.45 million of the $15 million coming between the signing bonus and salary.—
Tyler Small,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
In the four years since NIL payments began in 2021, collectives affiliated with specific schools have made hundreds of millions in deals with athletes just like those the CSC described in its examples.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
More: Car buyers set a record with more than $1,000-a-month car payments in Q2 Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Borrowers must typically repay their loans under an IDR plan while working in qualifying nonprofit or government employment on a full-time basis to receive PSLF credit toward loan forgiveness.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
In the case of a default, the deal called for Grubbs to repay investors their principle plus 18% interest.—
Alexandria Burris,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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