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
Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Whether the growth bet pays off or not, the interest rate math embedded in it may be the number Congress pays closest attention to.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
But when strategy replaces principle, the working class usually pays the price.
—Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Another group pays respects to the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the leading religious figure for millions of Shiites around the world, before launching what appears to be a suicide mission against enemies in Humvees.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Unions representing state employees who work in California prisons are sponsoring the legislation, which would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to report how many contract employees work in its facilities and how much the state pays for those services.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Austin also pays its top officials more money with a few notable exceptions.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
Springsteen pays tribute to 'maestro' Prince But the weighty undertones of the show were well-balanced with comparatively lighthearted selections that provided an escape from the intensity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The buying cost is fixed, and no buyer pays for our comfort.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Apr. 2026
Additionally, 80% said all health care costs -- including premiums, deductibles, co-pays or coinsurance -- are higher.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Lower doses also mean lower spending — both for the patient (who is responsible for co-pays) and CMS.
—Mark J. Ratain, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
That’s why the insurance marketplace to ensure there were no co-pays on routine office visits, age-appropriate health screenings or vaccines.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Enrollees in this form of coverage face no premiums, co-pays or out-of-pocket costs.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
Urgent care usually has higher co-pays than a regular office visit, but will not be as expensive or take as long as an emergency room.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
However, Myers could owe much more in out-of-pocket costs due to $80 co-pays and an $8,000 deductible.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
While Medicaid covers it in Colorado, commercial plans may charge co-pays.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
Somebody who lives in Shawnee but commutes downtown for work, for example, pays the tax, and roughly half its revenue comes from people who live outside the city.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Whether the growth bet pays off or not, the interest rate math embedded in it may be the number Congress pays closest attention to.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
But when strategy replaces principle, the working class usually pays the price.
—Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Another group pays respects to the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the leading religious figure for millions of Shiites around the world, before launching what appears to be a suicide mission against enemies in Humvees.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Unions representing state employees who work in California prisons are sponsoring the legislation, which would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to report how many contract employees work in its facilities and how much the state pays for those services.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Austin also pays its top officials more money with a few notable exceptions.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
Springsteen pays tribute to 'maestro' Prince But the weighty undertones of the show were well-balanced with comparatively lighthearted selections that provided an escape from the intensity.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The buying cost is fixed, and no buyer pays for our comfort.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
The final version of the bill walks back many of the more drastic changes that originally appeared in HB 2, including lowering co-pays, easing up on redetermination and allowing for hardship waivers.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Apr. 2026
Additionally, 80% said all health care costs -- including premiums, deductibles, co-pays or coinsurance -- are higher.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Lower doses also mean lower spending — both for the patient (who is responsible for co-pays) and CMS.
—Mark J. Ratain, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
That’s why the insurance marketplace to ensure there were no co-pays on routine office visits, age-appropriate health screenings or vaccines.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Enrollees in this form of coverage face no premiums, co-pays or out-of-pocket costs.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
Urgent care usually has higher co-pays than a regular office visit, but will not be as expensive or take as long as an emergency room.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
However, Myers could owe much more in out-of-pocket costs due to $80 co-pays and an $8,000 deductible.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
While Medicaid covers it in Colorado, commercial plans may charge co-pays.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays
Verb
-
Texas compensates for its lack of income tax revenue with a higher sales tax.—
System Process,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
-
When energy expenditure increases, the body often compensates by stimulating hunger.—
Claudio Villanueva,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Join us at the Four Seasons for a celebration where cuisine meets culture.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Clients being served at the time of closure will be connected with resources that best meets their needs at the time including other city shelter sites, residential treatment, and permanent supportive housing.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whether or not a school-age child spends their school day on a screen shouldn’t be dependent on where mom or dad can find a job.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Rochester, for example, spends about 250,000 pounds ($330,000) a year on music, a substantial outlay for a provincial cathedral but less than some.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shoppers should know that the combination of high-quality materials, strong edge support and elevated construction yields a hotel-like experience, and the craftsmanship is reflected in the price.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
University of Bath researchers note that this process yields CO₂ and water only (compatible with concrete).—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One alderman who employs pension-eligible part-time staffers showed the Tribune ward expense reports from 2024 and 2025 that did not account for their pension costs.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
At every major-league park, the league employs a Ball-Out-Strike System (BOSS) operator who is responsible for ensuring the correct strike zone is used for each hitter – as opposed to say, the 5-foot-11 Trent Grisham getting stuck with the zone of the 6-7 Aaron Judge.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lee’s Summit tax levy Voters in the Lee’s Summit school district are deciding on whether to approve a tax levy that will be used to increase teacher salaries.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
On average, teachers earn lower salaries at Oakland Unified than in any other school district in Alameda County, according to data compiled by the Oakland Education Association teachers union.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Access to fuel, machinery and transportation routes often requires payments in gold to authorities or armed networks, embedding illicit production in the supply chain.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Another foundation in their name also did not make direct payments to the group during that time, according to its tax records.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The bond also has a maturity date, which is when the issuer repays the principal.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Creature repays the favor by using his strength to free the ship from its icy prison.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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