paying 1 of 3

Definition of payingnext

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
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
Importing higher-paying—and oftentimes higher-achieving—students benefits a school during boom times, when universities have seemingly infinite choice among applicants. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 19 May 2026 Adani, one of the world’s richest people, was accused in 2024 of paying massive bribes to ensure the project’s success. Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026 Those are all decent statistics for a young, green quarterback, but Miami will need more than that for the $45 million the Dolphins have committed to paying Willis during the next two seasons. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026 But there is bipartisan agreement about the source of the problem—and who is paying for it. Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 After leaving Darlene Lane, the family moved four times in four months — at times paying their mortgage and rent simultaneously. Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 18 May 2026 Local unions can avoid a recertification vote by having 60% of teachers paying dues, which automatically re-certifies the chapter. Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026 City leaders and police have also begun paying closer attention. Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 11 May 2026 Some jurors might have disliked the concept of schools paying college athletes a share of broadcasting revenue and other commercial, pro sports-like features of the case. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying
Adjective
  • Indeed, as the 1980s wore on, the most profitable banks were those who could muster the largest number of associates to dream up deals, analysts to vet them, salespeople to win new business, and traders to buy and sell securities.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
  • This multi-billion-dollar shift means Boeing is not as profitable as investors may think and is why it was removed from the Bloomberg New Constructs Core Earnings Leaders Index during the latest rebalance.
    David Trainer, Forbes.com, 15 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
  • Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung, accusing the electronics company of using her likeness to sell TVs without her permission or compensating her.
    Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2026
  • Annabelle Gordon | Reuters Lower-income consumers are compensating for higher gas prices by buying less while those in higher-income brackets haven't changed their behavior much at all despite soaring costs, according to research released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve of New York.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Your connections are under a microscope, but clarity arrives around who’s meeting you halfway and who’s just enjoying access to you.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
  • The interest rate climate is high and static right now, with another Federal Reserve meeting not even scheduled again until June.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • His lips were sunburned after spending three days leading a group down the Rio Grande.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • Now the company seeks to expand on last year’s win by spending vast sums — putting up more than $70 million so far — on a California ballot measure campaign to cap attorney fees in car crash cases.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • And the end came well before midnight, with goals by Mitch Marner and Brett Howden in the first 8½ minutes giving Vegas a commanding lead before many in the late-arriving weeknight crowd had made it to their seats at the Honda Center.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • Las Vegas moved on from the quarterback this offseason in favor of Cousins and Mendoza, less than a year after giving Smith more than $58 million guaranteed.
    Sam Warren, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • But most importantly of all, macOS users need to be aware of how the SHub Reaper threat actors are employing that infection chain by layering familiar brands across multiple stages of the same singular attack.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • Cambodia’s garment industry, employing hundreds of thousands of workers, also rode the shift.
    Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • Paramount’s live-action/CGI hybrid film series has proved incredibly lucrative at the global box office, grossing a collective $1 billion.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • Through a barrage of advertising and on-campus information sessions, investment banking sold itself as the most attractive, lucrative, and secure job for top students.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Paying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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