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
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
With threats to expose social security numbers, dates of birth, family information, grades, and even confidential medical information, the breach cornered PowerSchool into paying millions of dollars in ransom. Mike Levine, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026 The company has pushed back on Cherry Creek Schools’ efforts to terminate contracts with Education Accelerated in February, and the firm’s attorney has accused the district of not paying a recent invoice. Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026 Ladeana says Josh asked her for money, rather than paying for the phone bill. Meghan O'Brien, NBC news, 13 Apr. 2026 As crowds continue to grow ahead of Bhosle’s funeral and outside her home , major names from across India have joined the industry names in paying tribute. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026 That dynamic is allowing investors to continue paying higher valuations for stocks, even as geopolitical risks persist. Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, which quietly became the longest-running Black sitcom in television history while most of the critical establishment wasn’t paying attention. Geoff Bennett, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026 Our October coaching fees for Coach Trevor plus the Irvine Harvest Cup and State Cup registration fees, plus Coach Trevor’s expenses for Irvine were all calculated by my predecessor on the basis of 12 paying players. Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026 Many players also opt for deferrals and large signing bonuses (as opposed to a higher salary) to avoid paying income tax in certain states. Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paying
Adjective
  • Convenience store gas sales are not as profitable as bringing people inside from the pumps.
    Mead Gruver, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • In 1949, Arthur Miller envisioned the American Dream as a kind of spiritual opioid crisis — a profitable system of addiction, this one to a beautiful lie, that was literally killing people.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Eligible users should have received a notice in the mail or email containing a notice ID and a confirmation code, which is needed when selecting a payment method online.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members' offices, totaling just over $400,000.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The calls were loudest for burying power lines, improving utility equipment to withstand storms and compensating businesses and individuals for losses due to outages.
    Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
  • To hear health systems tell the story, artificial intelligence tools like ambient scribes are helping not only reduce doctor burnout, but also increasing payments from insurers that haven’t been compensating them properly.
    Brittany Trang, STAT, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Upon arriving, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, spent time at Bondi Beach, meeting volunteer first responders from the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club in Sydney.
    Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Lula and Sánchez, along with ministers from their cabinets, are meeting at a former royal palace in Barcelona on Friday when they are expected to sign agreements regarding their economies, technology and social policies.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The airline was also trying to bring in higher-spending customers with bigger seats and bundled fares to compete with rival airlines.
    Bri Buckley, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • On Wednesday, Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands was spending 248 million euros ($292 million) on drones for the Ukrainian military.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In 2022, researchers concluded that Neanderthals and humans lived alongside each other in France and Spain for up to 2,900 years, giving them plenty of time to potentially learn from or even breed with each other.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • As was the case with the white-and-green dress for her Pakistan tour, Elizabeth, in her fashion choices, sought not only to avoid giving offense but to offer symbolic ingratiation, and among the most fascinating garments on display are those representing diplomatic dressing.
    Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Swalwell did not respond to requests for comment Sunday on the letter or an unrelated federal investigation into his allegedly employing a nanny who overstayed her visa.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The federal law that ICE is now employing to block many immigrants from bail also requires mandatory detention — which attorneys argue is the point.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • When combined with the store’s credit card, deals can be even more lucrative.
    Liz Knueven,Ryley Amond, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Peterson, however, says this would worsen the area’s housing challenges by taking away units from the long-term rentals market, as landlords may find shorter deals more lucrative.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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