paying 1 of 3

paying

2 of 3

noun

as in payment
the act of offering money in exchange for goods or services the actual shopping was quick, but with the long lines, paying for the stuff seemed to take forever

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

paying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of pay
1
as in compensating
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in giving
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paying
Adjective
The feature arrives weeks after Google started reducing the default storage for non-paying accounts from 15GB to just 5GB in some regions. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 June 2026 All roles are open and non-paying. Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026 The idea is to remove non-paying riders, often who are homeless, mentally ill or taking illicit drugs, from the system. Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026 Customers will still be able to preload $35 for unlimited seven-day travel onto an OMNY card — riding free after paying for 12 trips in any seven-day period — though pre-paying is not required for the unlimited rides. Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026 Under Niccol, Starbucks has brought back its tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the food and drink menu; ended its open-bathroom policy for non-paying customers; and laid off 1,100 corporate employees in February. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025 So, while a paying customer willing to spend $100 on a coin bundle will typically receive around 100 Sweeps Coins as a bonus, the non-paying customer who mails in a postcard is capped at 5 Sweeps Coins – a nominal amount. Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
The survey shows who will be doing more of the paying. Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 And many of the jobs that were created are part-time or low paying. Justin Mayo, New York Times, 12 May 2026 Is your job one of the highest paying in Kentucky? Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Mar. 2026 The inevitable capitalistic evolution of the House settlement that allowed for the paying of athletes guaranteed there would be winners and losers, and the winners are – no surprise – the signal-callers. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026 Balanced growth, roads and other infrastructure, continuing a positive approach to economic development, attracting industry and high paying jobs. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025 Notably, Ditto is the best paying of the three, but doesn’t accept freelancers from California, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Rather than paying the Cuban government agency that runs medical missions, Calabria signed individual contracts with the doctors and makes deposits in their Italian bank accounts. ABC News, 9 July 2026 The Justice Department unveiled this case against it, essentially arguing that SPLC had been defrauding its donors by paying informants within far-right groups who were infiltrating those groups. Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026 Stations have to disclose payments or valuable consideration, as well as the identity of the person paying. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Compare that with paying $30 to $60 per visit at a cold plunge or sauna studio three times a week, which works out to $4,500 to $9,000 a year, or $45,000 to $90,000 over a decade. Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026 Back then, publishers were chasing eyeballs on Facebook, which was paying media companies directly to make videos for the platform. Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 July 2026 The airport’s public-facing website isn’t clear-cut about who’s paying for the changes. Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 There’s a difference between holding a handful of money and paying for a good than pulling your phone out and tapping. Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Lower participation means fewer people paying payroll and income taxes, and more people relying on income support programs that the government would have to pay out. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying
Adjective
  • In February, the board pivoted and entered negotiations with Sunrise Senior Living, whose proposal is more profitable, has a faster timeline and provides more space for community amenities, according to the district.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Right-sizing your system to the existing demand in the marketplace is the way for independents to get profitable outcomes from their distribution system.
    Daren Smith, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • At a time of elevated mortgage rates and near-record high home prices, many feel locked out of homeownership or struggle with monthly rent payments.
    Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Participants will learn how to download and set up the app, create an account, add a payment method safely, use Uber Simple Mode, and request rides through Uber’s Call to Ride service without using the app.
    Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • For decades, the system has demanded toughness in exactly the wrong places, tolerating dysfunctional technology, absorbing endless documentation, and compensating for broken workflows.
    Frantz M. Berthaud, STAT, 7 July 2026
  • The most obvious concession is compensating Cubans and Americans whose assets were confiscated during the revolution.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • In moving to a 355,000-square-foot terminal, officials say, the airport can give passengers more room and better technology while meeting safety and accessibility standards.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen supported Rutte’s claim, confirming that Denmark is meeting NATO’s targets.
    Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • For consumption, Temasek sees opportunities in spending on experiences over goods, and homegrown consumer brands that have proved innovation capabilities, over foreign brands.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • But instead, Patel is walking free after spending two years living with his parents and participating in therapy.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • With the crack of the ball against his bat, Tommy Edman scored from third, giving the Dodgers the lead.
    Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Another challenge is that the EV segment relies heavily on rare earths imported from China, giving Indian two-wheeler makers little control over supply and pricing.
    Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Georgia’s place in the national automotive ecosystem might be anchored by the likes of Hyundai and Kia, which operate sprawling factories here employing thousands, but Vintage Modern is finding its niche.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
  • Kinaxis, also employing FDE, stresses the need for deep domain expertise.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • But even in that latter case, a two-way contract pays only half of the NBA minimum salary, with older players often able to find something more lucrative overseas.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
  • For a rocket company, cracking into the lucrative US military launch market is both a sign of maturity, as well as an important source of revenue.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Paying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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