ponying up

Definition of ponying upnext
present participle of pony up
as in paying
to give what is owed for despite having good credit, the couple still had to pony up a large down payment for the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponying up
Verb
  • Alan’s brother, Merrill Osmond, 72, was among those paying tribute.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Wrestlers operated as independent contractors, and this allowed the McMahons to avoid paying benefits.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In February, Pepsi cut prices on Lay's, Tostitos, Doritos and Cheetos by as much as 15% to try to win back shoppers; the efforts are paying off already.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Fifteen years in, the strategy is paying off.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Americans are hitting the road despite elevated prices For many Americans there is no choice besides paying up.
    Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Often these are aimed at either conning applicants into paying up-front fees or providing personal information that the scammers later use to gain access to credit in the victim’s name.
    Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Ponying up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponying%20up. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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