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
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
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
In doing so, drivers can ensure their insurer has accurate information, thereby keeping them protected without paying more than necessary. Ethan M. Stone, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026 No one likes paying for insurance — and mounting premiums in 2025 didn't help matters. Liz Knueven, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026 That means new state sales tax money — and possibly local too — throughout that entire area would be put toward paying back stadium debt instead of other government priorities. Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026 And though some male musicians, like the British rocker Yungblud or the R&B singer 4batz, have faced industry plant accusations, anyone paying attention can see that this term is mostly directed at female musicians. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026 The principal is only paying the agent’s commission once. Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026 And people started paying attention. Michael Schneider, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026 The veteran infielder opted out of his most recent contract that was paying him an average of $40 million per year in order to seek a multi-year contract. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025 Need help paying utility bills in Indiana? John Tufts, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying
Adjective
  • The Yahoo Boys promises to be an in-depth work of narrative nonfiction that explores the material conditions that make these scams profitable, and the lives of four such scammers in Lagos, Nigeria.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
  • But the Fed seems to view its job as ensuring that banks are profitable, even if that comes at the expense of people living in precarity.
    Aaron Klein, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • According to the filing, Pepsi allegedly reinforced that gap by offering Walmart promotional payments, allowances and data-sharing services that were not extended to other retailers.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The reduced monthly payments can improve affordability for a period until home prices adjust in response to changes in the rates.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Bureau of Prisons ultimately settled the lawsuit, compensating almost 1,600 inmates with a total of approximately $10 million for enduring frigid and inhumane conditions because of the power outage.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The largest brakes in 911 history have also been fitted—with 10-piston 420 mm front and four-piston 410 mm at the rear—further compensating for the Turbo S’s additional weight.
    Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The two have been close since meeting at a 2014 Oscars after-party.
    Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To this day, it's celebrated as one of the most iconic musical pairings ever captured on television — a shimmering handoff between generations and a snapshot of two powerhouse voices meeting in perfect harmony.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • To be sure, the AI boom could deliver that revenue surge—but even slight weakening in spending growth across the industry could hit CoreWeave disproportionately.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • For example, financial therapist Aja Evans recommends leaning into self-care activities that cost little to no money, like going outside and spending time with family and friends.
    Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Luckily, Madewell is giving us something to celebrate this season with a surprise sale on cold-weather clothing essentials with prices starting as low as $20.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Russia has been pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with drones and missiles in recent weeks, employing a tactic used in previous winters.
    Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Local productions shifted away from sweeping narratives toward stories reflecting everyday life, employing diverse visual styles and genres to meet varied audience preferences.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • While the $52M mark is a 4% drop from the previous week, and about 7% down from the same time – Week 32 – last year, those slips reflect the always-lucrative Christmas week highs (Christmas fell within Week 32 last season).
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
  • But she was fired from her lucrative job in New York, and is forced to move back in with her mother, who lives in Utah in a house that Bea pays for.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Paying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paying. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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