Synonyms of pays

pays 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pay

1

as in compensates

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

• compensates
• repays
• reimburses
• remunerates
• refunds
• recompenses
• pays off
• pays up
• remits
• prepays
• requites

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stiffs

2

as in meets

to give what is owed for

you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• meets
• settles
• balances
• stands
• pays off
• clears
• pays up
• foots
• liquidates
• discharges
• quits
• springs (for)
• recompenses
• antes (up)
• ponies up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repudiates

3

as in spends

to hand over or use up in payment

rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spends
• gives
• disburses
• outlays
• expends
• lays out
• drops
• shells out
• lavishes
• forks (over, out, or up)
• rains
• wastes
• runs through
• blows
• dissipates
• squanders
• throws away
• fritters (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• saves
• earns
• makes
• realizes
• acquires
• wins
• secures
• procures
• lays up
• gains
• hoards
• caches
• garners

4

as in yields

to produce as revenue

an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yields
• gives
• returns
• provides
• bears
• affords
• furnishes
• supplies
• brings in
• nets
• pays off

5

as in employs

to provide with a paying job

pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• employs
• hires
• recruits
• engages
• retains
• fees
• assumes
• signs (up or on)
• enlists
• places
• lays on
• takes on
• jobs
• partners
• promotes
• rehires
• contracts
• reemploys
• apprentices
• subcontracts
• reengages
• keeps (on)
• upgrades
• advances
• headhunts
• scouts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismisses
• cans
• discharges
• fires
• axes
• sacks
• furloughs
• lays off
• locks out

pays

2 of 2

noun

plural of pay

1

as in salaries

the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services

it's difficult to support two children on her pay

Synonyms & Similar Words

• salaries
• wages
• payments
• stipends
• hires
• paychecks
• pay envelopes
• emoluments
• packets
• returns
• minimum wages
• profits
• earnings
• nominal wages
• compensations
• living wages
• reparations
• reimbursements
• take-home pays
• yields
• repayments
• recompenses
• overtimes
• restitutions
• double times
• remittances
• takings
• redresses
• remunerations
• recoupments
• time and a halfs
• requitals

2

as in payments

something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services

we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• payments
• wages
• compensations
• salaries
• reparations
• considerations
• remittances
• reimbursements
• recompenses
• stipends
• outlays
• deposits
• remunerations
• expenditures
• repayments
• refunds
• adjustments
• rentals
• indemnities
• rents
• settlements
• rebates
• disbursements
• requitals
• redresses
• prepayments
• restitutions
• overpayments
• recoupments

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pays

Verb

And the city is backing a ballot initiative of its own, Measure AT, which would eliminate a $15-million cap on the 10% admission tax on ticket sales the stadium pays. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

That’s, like, half of what Heather pays for house slippers — that is a single designer slipper. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Disney pays billions for live sports and then asks its affiliates for money to help pay for them. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile Circulose needs cotton-rich textiles, identified and separated to a specific standard, and the work of producing that isn’t what the system pays for. — Erik Lagerblad, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

The grant pays for the organizations to train staff in exercise oncology, to develop or expand programs to help those who have had, or survived cancer. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Each year, the program pays special honors to athletes and public figures who have significantly impacted the world of sports by channeling their creativity in new ways that simultaneously move their industry forward and shape popular culture. — Paul Grein, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026

So instead of making teams whole each time, the NFL now just pays teams’ travel expenses for their international game under the rationale that every team will lose a home game—and, in turn, home game ticket revenue—during that time. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026

The result is a politics in which almost everyone agrees that reform is urgently needed, provided someone else pays, and their own group’s advantages remain untouched. — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Noun

GoCardless hires graduates from any discipline but still encourages them to qualify as accountants and pays for the exams. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

This is a limit on the total cost-sharing consumers pay during the year — including co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026

Their co-pays went up, and their deductibles each increased by $2,000. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

The bill instituted several major changes to the federal health insurance program, including work requirements, more frequent redeterminations and minimum co-pays, most of which begin in 2027. — Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Sep. 2026

This type of insurance can help cover the costs tied to leftover Medicare deductibles, co-insurances, co-pays and hospital costs. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Be sure to investigate co-pays, deductibles, and what’s covered for birthing classes and specialty tests. — Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

Also, ask a senior about co-pays required for medical visits. — Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Even with premiums, co-pays and deductibles, the federal government cannot afford Medicare-for-some. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 26 May 2026