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

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

The farm's latest maze pays tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton, combining a fall favorite with a celebration of the singer's music and philanthropy. — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, while comprehensive coverage will repair or replace your car for damage not caused by a collision, including theft or weather damage. — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Each maintains their own bank account and pays the mortgage and maintenance for their own home. — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 14 Oct. 2026

Doctors give big The next two years could be a crucial time for doctors as Congress considers the first major overhaul of how Medicare pays physicians, and the left flank of the Democratic party rallies around Medicare for all. — John Wilkerson, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026

Weaver hasn’t disclosed his net worth or how much The Lion King still pays him. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Waymo doesn’t divulge its vehicle manufacturing cost, but Abuelsamid estimates the company pays about $60,000-$70,000 for the Ojai and $140,000-$150,000 for the Jaguar after both are fully built for Waymo Driver. — Henry Payne, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

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

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