Thesaurus

pay

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of pay

1 the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services

it's difficult to support two children on her pay

Synonyms of pay

emolument, hire, packet [British], pay envelope, paycheck, payment, salary, stipend, wage

Words Related to pay

living wage, minimum wage, nominal wages, take-home pay

double time, overtime, time and a half

compensation, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital, return

recoupment, redress, reparation, restitution

reimbursement, repayment

earnings, profit, takings, yield

2 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 of pay

compensation, consideration, payment, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital

Words Related to pay

salary, stipend, wage(s)

disbursement, expenditure, outlay

indemnity, recoupment, redress, reparation, restitution

adjustment, settlement

reimbursement, repayment

pay

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of pay

1 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 of pay

compensate, recompense, remunerate

Words Related to pay

refund, reimburse, repay, requite

pay off, pay up, prepay

Near Antonyms of pay

2 to give what is owed for

you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms of pay

ante (up), balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for), stand

Antonyms of pay

3 to hand over or use up in payment

rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert

Synonyms of pay

disburse, drop, expend, fork (over, out, or up), give, lay out, outlay, shell out, spend

Words Related to pay

blow, dissipate, fritter (away), run through, squander, throw away, waste

Near Antonyms of pay

cache, hoard, lay up, save

acquire, earn, gain, garner, make, procure, realize, secure, win

4 to produce as revenue

an investment paying six percent

Synonyms of pay

bear, give, return, yield

Words Related to pay

afford, furnish, provide, supply

5 to provide with a paying job

pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer

Synonyms of pay

assume, employ, engage, fee [chiefly Scottish], hire, lay on [chiefly British], place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Words Related to pay

reemploy, reengage, rehire

apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract

advance, promote, upgrade

headhunt, scout

Near Antonyms of pay

furlough, lay off, lock out

Antonyms of pay

ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack

Synonym Discussion of pay

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something. pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

- paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

- an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

- promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

- all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

- reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

- indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

- repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

- passengers were recompensed for the delay

Learn More about pay

See words that rhyme with pay Dictionary: Definition of pay Spanish Central: Translation of pay Nglish: Translation of pay for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pay for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pay

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pay? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

writhe

to move or proceed with twists and turns