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
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 All roles are open and non-paying. Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 14 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 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
The latest chapter in this endless epic belongs to Kansas State, which is trying to line item its way out of paying Jerome Tang the money the administration offered him. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026 Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed. Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026 Its roots are in publicly paying penance for serious sins or crimes in the eyes of the church, like adultery or apostasy, which means renouncing the church and its beliefs. Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 16 Feb. 2026 Purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed. Jacques Billeaud, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026 While paying his dues, Duvall roomed in a sixth-floor apartment at 109th Street and Broadway with another aspiring actor, Dustin Hoffman. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026 In most of the cases, State Farm denied policyholders who had no connection to the company beyond paying their premiums. J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026 For rural counties with limited money, not paying the attorneys on the juvenile docket allows the court to pay for jurors, attorneys on other dockets, courthouse improvements and more, Fransein said. Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Feb. 2026 Our current proposal builds on that leadership position and keeps Kaiser Permanente among the best-paying employees in health care. Tina Patel, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying
Adjective
  • Patients are often misdiagnosed or untreated because rT3 testing and therapies are not profitable.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Congratulations, this film is immensely profitable.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
    Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 17 Feb. 2026
  • To make EVs more affordable, companies like Rideence are adopting pay-as-you-drive and lease-to-own options that let operators avoid expensive initial payments.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Your lumbar spine is designed primarily for stability and not large degrees of rotation, so the stress of compensating takes a toll.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Terms included portraying Moy in a positive light and compensating the family for its assistance.
    Gary Graff, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Manufacturers must reduce weight and energy use while meeting strict safety rules.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied meeting Giuffre.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The fiscal angst is most obvious in urban school districts, where enrollment declines are most severe and where unions are the strongest, often spending heavily to elect friendly school board members.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Pritzker’s $56 billion election-year budget plan represents one of the smallest increases in state spending the governor has proposed since the governor took office in 2019.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Staff strike an easy balance, remaining accessible while still giving guests the space to enjoy the area’s quiet and calm.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Again, the Dodgers have talked openly about giving him more days off, because everything with this organization centers on October.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • It was also reported to be Butler County's ninth largest employer, employing about 2,000 people.
    Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Another, role the state could play in immigration is to eliminate employing H1B visas immigrants from any state contracts and from admission into state Universities.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The former head of the NYPD School Safety division attempted to steer lucrative city contracts to a Florida businessman in exchange for bribes that included cash payments, luxury hotel stays and Broadway tickets, federal officials said Thursday.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The purchase, which is expected to close in the middle of 2026, aims to make Capital One more competitive in the lucrative corporate card market.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Paying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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