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

The government created a national preventive care program decades ago and gave every citizen a right to regular checkups, which gave clinics a reason to buy expensive machines, which brought the volume that pays for the expensive machines. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

The Avon Historical Society pays the liability for the inside of the building and the structural repairs, like the roof, are the town’s responsibility. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

Each buyer pays for a slot and keeps whatever cards are pulled for their position. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

That calculation includes utilities like water, gas, electricity and trash fees as a housing cost, services for which the average Idahoan pays roughly $240 per month, according to a cost-of-living analysis from the online bank SoFi. — Mark Dee august 26, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2026

Kesha pays an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton at her Pittsburgh, PA show tonight by singing ‘Old Flames (Can’t Hold A Candle To You)’ – written by Kesha’s mom Pebe Sebert for Dolly Parton. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026

City staff said that the line item also pays for attorney’s fees, legal fees and maintenance costs, such as mowing, on the land acquired by the city. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026

China also pays plasma donors, but caps donations at every fortnight, up to 24 times a year – far fewer times than the US, where donors can roll up their sleeves up to twice a week, 104 times a year. — Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

If their income is between one and two times the federal poverty level, Central Health pays the balance of their monthly premium after federal tax credits have been applied. — Olivia Aldridge, NPR, 23 Aug. 2026

Noun

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

There is no Cost Per Mile (CPM), a digital marketing metric that represents the cost an advertiser pays for every 1,000 impressions. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 5 July 2026

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

In return, doctors offer a more thorough annual physical, same-day appointments, no co-pays and more time with the patient. — Chris Tomlinson, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026

Health insurance plans are designed to include some level of cost-sharing, such as co-pays or co-insurance. — Fennemore, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026

Tax revenue from sports gambling pays for water projects across the state. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026