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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in meets
to give what is owed for
you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in employs
to provide with a paying job
pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pays
Barry Levitt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the Queen B drink is a shoutout to Brittany Mahomes, the Showtime cocktail refers to Patrick’s lifelong nickname and the Big Yeti beverage pays tribute to Kelce’s pickup basketball nickname.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
According to Bball-Index’s stat that measures gravity (how much attention a primary defender pays to his man while away from the ball), Hunter blew away his previous career high in 2024-25.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
These complexities have come at the expense of the consumer, who now pays an average of $88 per month to watch sports on streaming platforms versus $64 per month for those not watching sports, according to tech research firm InterDigital.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
The executive director of two nonprofits, who also cares for her 89-year-old father full time, already pays nearly $500 a month for her premiums.
—Ali Swenson, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
The government pays more to service its debt.
—Allison Schrager, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Voters will ultimately decide if the governor pays a political price for any of these signings or vetoes.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
The awards’ theme for this edition is Hot by Heritage, which pays tribute to the richness, resilience and strength of Latin American culture.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2025
Amazon said that will reduce weekly contributions by 34% and co-pays by 87% for primary care, mental health and most non-specialist visits for employees using the basic plan.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Proof that staying current pays.
—Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
While his premiums are very low, his deductible and co-pays for things like prescriptions for insulin equipment run hundreds of dollars per month.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The bill will also require people with incomes above the poverty line to pay out-of-pocket co-pays for most Medicaid services, such as lab tests or doctor visits.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Verb
Long before their food arrives, Maggie asks for the check, pays, and walks out.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the Queen B drink is a shoutout to Brittany Mahomes, the Showtime cocktail refers to Patrick’s lifelong nickname and the Big Yeti beverage pays tribute to Kelce’s pickup basketball nickname.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
According to Bball-Index’s stat that measures gravity (how much attention a primary defender pays to his man while away from the ball), Hunter blew away his previous career high in 2024-25.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
These complexities have come at the expense of the consumer, who now pays an average of $88 per month to watch sports on streaming platforms versus $64 per month for those not watching sports, according to tech research firm InterDigital.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
The executive director of two nonprofits, who also cares for her 89-year-old father full time, already pays nearly $500 a month for her premiums.
—Ali Swenson, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
The government pays more to service its debt.
—Allison Schrager, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Voters will ultimately decide if the governor pays a political price for any of these signings or vetoes.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
The awards’ theme for this edition is Hot by Heritage, which pays tribute to the richness, resilience and strength of Latin American culture.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
That’s a little pricey for those core parts, but much of the cost pays for the laptop’s high-end materials and hardware features.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2025
Amazon said that will reduce weekly contributions by 34% and co-pays by 87% for primary care, mental health and most non-specialist visits for employees using the basic plan.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Proof that staying current pays.
—Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
While his premiums are very low, his deductible and co-pays for things like prescriptions for insulin equipment run hundreds of dollars per month.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The bill will also require people with incomes above the poverty line to pay out-of-pocket co-pays for most Medicaid services, such as lab tests or doctor visits.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays
Verb
-
Even if not at their maximum crop yield, protein-rich beans, pumpkin flesh, and pumpkin seeds yield additional protein that compensates for the slightly diminished crop yields.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Oct. 2025
-
A little over half of that burden will hit farmers directly in the form of falling retail prices, SBI said, unless the government compensates for the loss.—
Sriram Iyer, executive editor, CNBC-TV18,
CNBC,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If Carr meets the moment, Notre Dame should have enough offense to pull away from USC during the second half and keep this season on the tracks.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
If a home's drain pipe breaks down, water can seep into the basement where the floor meets the foundation walls, Barrick said.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Next summer, the Star Princess will be the first Sphere-class ship to sail Alaska, where half of Princess’s fleet spends its summers.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Gage also spends significant time reflecting on his childhood in San Diego and opens up about his recent borderline personality diagnosis.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The stock, which yields almost 4%, fell 1% in premarket trading Wednesday.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
That anomaly yields a joke or two about Grofield using his acting skills to get into character on the job, but it’s insufficiently developed to add much.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The film employs police bodycam footage from the aftermath of the altercation between Lorincz, who is White, and Owens, who was Black.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Emaar has invested $4 billion in Marassi North Coast, which employs around 20,000 people on-site and has already welcomed around four million tourists since April this year, says Alabbar.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And unlike academics supported largely by tuition or endowments, HSPH researchers typically have had to bring in nearly all of their own research funds, including to cover their own salaries and those of staff and trainees.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
-
But sticking around doesn’t mean wages and salaries have to stagnate.—
Cathy Bussewitz,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
She was told she would be added to the payroll of a fake company, with payments coming from one of Jeffrey Epstein’s Bank of America accounts.—
Chase Jordan
October 17,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Instead, our $1 trillion interest bill was $160 billion greater than this year’s price tag on the Pentagon, and every $4 of $5 collected by the federal government went solely to interest payments, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images What To Know The program repays up to $20,000 in student loan debt over four years, according to HESAA.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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