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
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
30 June 2026
Writing a Check Writing checks has gotten less and less common thanks to the prominence of online bill pay and the ease of paying with a card or via app (like Venmo).
—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
30 June 2026
John M. Bremen,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Because the city owns Palmetto Research Park, officials were able to hold out and say no to several redevelopment opportunities the past four years in order to bring in high-pay jobs, said Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys.
—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pay
Verb
The financial struggles led to them not being able to pay vendors, which led key brands to stop sending the retailers products to sell, further accelerating its decline.
—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
30 June 2026
Writing a Check Writing checks has gotten less and less common thanks to the prominence of online bill pay and the ease of paying with a card or via app (like Venmo).
—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
30 June 2026
Noun
Leaders in many sectors focused on earnings protection rather than growth, reducing hiring to rein in rising labor costs, including pay, healthcare and retirement.
—
John M. Bremen,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Because the city owns Palmetto Research Park, officials were able to hold out and say no to several redevelopment opportunities the past four years in order to bring in high-pay jobs, said Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys.
—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
Verb
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Then incorporate it into performance reviews, and create structures to compensate for the extra time and emotional energy spent on it.
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Douglas said automatic gratuities also serve a practical purpose for larger parties, helping to ensure servers are fairly compensated for the additional coordination and service those tables require.
Verb
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The United States and Iran have agreed to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday for further discussions, according to another US official.
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Sources told Axios that both sides agreed to halt attacks on each other and meet in Qatar on Tuesday to resolve differences over the Strait of Hormuz.
Verb
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Nowadays, Monson de Kansky still keeps busy, whether by managing the Sierra Madre property; spending time with her four children, six grandchildren and cat, Lizzie; keeping up with current affairs and old friends; or, naturally, teaching dance.
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Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
Verb
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Issues with the test The Presidential Physical Fitness Test has previously yielded negative results among some students, according to Goodway.
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The technology was part of a broader effort by a working group of coaches and analysts to find minor advantages that could yield major benefits at the World Cup, both in shootouts and on set pieces, including free kicks and corner kicks.
Verb
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The point of the Top 10 lists, Chandrasekaran said, is to steer young adults to employers that are actively hiring recent graduates into jobs that can seed meaningful careers.
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André Duvenhage, research director at South Africa’s North-West University, said migrants are often hired because employers see them as willing to work for lower wages and, as non-citizens, they are typically not protected by as many labor protections.
Noun
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The Sacramento Kings traded guard Devin Carter and a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for salary cap relief Monday.
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Book deals regularly eclipse Supreme Court justices' $300,000 government salaries.
Noun
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The communication reportedly did not seek payment and included language expressing remorse, a detail experts say is unusual in genuine ransom demands.
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For longtime customer Nita Lynch, who has banked with FirstBank since 1975, the merger has meant spending hours updating routing numbers, retirement accounts and automatic payments.
Verb
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Under the standard plan, borrowers will have between 10 years and 25 years to repay their loans depending on the amount borrowed.
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Getty Images Key Facts Last year’s spending bill imposed a number of changes on how student loans are capped, regulated and repaid, including establishing new repayment plans and caps on loans.
Cite this Entry
“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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