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
Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Other red flags could include not being traceable to the state listed in the customer's address or paying for phone service with cryptocurrency.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Mullin said on Fox News recently that TSA lost nearly 8 percent of its workforce when its staff went without pay during the shutdown.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pay
Verb
Mahudhee was laid to rest in full military honors at a funeral ceremony in Malé, where thousands paid their respects including President Mohamed Muizzu, tourism and military officials, and foreign ambassadors.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Other red flags could include not being traceable to the state listed in the customer's address or paying for phone service with cryptocurrency.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Noun
Adapted from Native American dugout vessels, log canoes were made to suit fishermen who relied on speed to receive the best pay for their catches.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Mullin said on Fox News recently that TSA lost nearly 8 percent of its workforce when its staff went without pay during the shutdown.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
-
But Detroit’s damning offensive flaws, which its defense compensated for during the regular season, were exposed by the Cavs.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Last week, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill introduced by the Merediths’ state senator, Avery Frix, that would create a fund to compensate homeowners whose houses have been damaged by oil and gas pollution.—
Nick Bowlin,
ProPublica,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
China's exports gathered pace in April as factories scrambled to meet surging overseas demand from foreign buyers stockpiling goods as the Iran fanned fears of higher input costs.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
Rafa starts to fidget around noon before mama is supposed to meet us for her lunch break.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood It’d be easy to spend a week around Nay Palad’s beachfront area, alternating between dips in the pool, reading books in a hammock, and tours around the gin-clear water in a see-through kayak—but on-the-up Siargao is well worth exploring.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
What this narrative neglects are all the ways treatment might cause terrible side effects, or the long period one spends being sick, and how one’s identity may have changed in the interim.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The Harbin individual yielded a similar number, and a few earlier studies had obtained data from individuals elsewhere, including a Denisovan from near Taiwan and an archaic human from Spain.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
-
The Angels threatened in the seventh against Erik Sabrowski, who yielded two walks but struck out the side.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
But in hiring the three-time Stanley Cup winner, the Ducks earned credibility in terms of coaching acumen and became an attraction for players.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Stefanie Markman joined the division as head of business & legal affairs, while Alix Teppel has come on board as head of marketing & partnerships, and KC Warnke was hired as head of physical production.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
One position will focus on pro scouting, draft scouting and player development while the other will specialize in analytics, data and the salary cap.—
Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Rankings took into account both job opportunities and quality of life, weighing characteristics including job-market saturation, the availability of entry-level jobs, average monthly starting salaries, and the affordability of housing.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Combined with anemic fundraising, a payment to her former criminal defense lawyer left her with just $11,000 in cash in her campaign account as of March 31.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Amanda and Cory also sought to lower Cory's child support payments to Aletta for Jessa, citing Amanda's medical expenses in court documents as a financial hardship.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
But after the Supreme Court ruling roughly two-thirds of this will have to be repaid, so the general effect on the federal finances will be relatively minor.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The country’s high court has acquitted the Colombian singer of tax fraud and ordered the treasury to repay the money to her, with interest.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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