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

Translate your performance into a unit of value finance already pays for. — Masha Khmel, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Survivorship life policies, also known as second-to-die insurance, cover two people, typically spouses, and pays the death benefit after the second person dies. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

First, placing a strict limit on the share of income that any household pays for healthcare each year must take priority. — Merrill Goozner, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

Likely soon, developers nationwide will face tighter rules limiting tax incentives and requiring stronger protections for residents around who pays for grid infrastructure and water use. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026

The exact arrangement varies from family to family, but some parents pay for the vehicle, while the teen pays for gas and/or insurance. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 4 Nov. 2026

The proposal followed a 2025 Georgia House study committee's examination of how the state pays for 911 services. — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

The clinic states that five hair transplant doctors work on staff, with operating rooms on site, so the patient books, pays and is treated within the same institution. — Connie Etemadi, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

This is a league-wide dilemma created from an environment that pays its employees handsomely for wins and fires them for losses. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 29 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