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pay1 definition

pay (pā)

transitive verb paid or Obsoletepayed, paying pay′·ing

  1. to give to (a person) what is due, as for goods received, services rendered, etc.; remunerate; recompense
  2. to give (what is due or owed) in return, as for goods or services
  3. to make a deposit or transfer of (money) paid $50 into the credit union
  4. to discharge or settle (a debt, obligation, expenses, etc.) by giving something in return
    1. to give or offer (a compliment, respects, attention, etc.)
    2. to make (a visit, call, etc.)
  6. to yield as a recompense or return a job that pays $90
  7. to be worthwhile or profitable to it will pay him to listen

Etymology: ME paien, to pay, satisfy < OFr paier < L pacare, to pacify < pax, peace

intransitive verb

  1. to give due compensation; make payment
  2. to be profitable or worthwhile
  3. to yield return or compensation as specified a stock that pays poorly

noun

  1. a paying or being paid; payment
  2. money paid, esp. for work or services; wages or salary
  3. anything, good or bad, given or done in return
  4. Now Rare a person regarded as a credit risk

adjective

  1. rich enough in minerals, ore, etc. to make mining profitable pay gravel
  2. operated or made available by depositing coins, submitting credit cards, etc. a pay telephone, pay toilet
  3. designating a service, facility, etc. paid for by subscription, fees, etc. pay TV
pay Idioms

in the pay of

employed and paid by

pay as you go

☆
to pay expenses as they arise

pay back

  1. to repay
  2. to retaliate upon

pay down

  1. to pay in cash
  2. to pay (part of the purchase price) at the time of purchase: used in installment buying

pay for

  1. to suffer or undergo punishment because of
  2. to atone or make amends for

pay off

  1. to pay all that is owed on (a debt, etc.) or to (a person, as in discharging from employment)
  2. to take revenge on (a wrongdoer) or for (a wrong done)
  3. to yield full recompense or return, for either good or evil
  4. Informal to bring about a desired result; succeed
  5. Naut. to swing or allow to swing away from the wind: said of the bow of a vessel

pay someone's way

to pay someone's share of the expenses

pay out

  1. to give out (money, etc.); expend
  2. to let out (a rope, cable, etc.) gradually

pay up

to pay in full or on time

with pay

with wages or salary included a two-week vacation with pay
pay2 definition

pay (pā)

transitive verb payed, paying pay′·ing

to coat as with pitch in order to make waterproof to pay the seams of a wooden ship

Etymology: OFr peier < L picare, to cover with pitch < pix, pitch

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business pay definition - business

idioms pay idiom

pay Synonyms


pay

v.

  1. To give payment

    compensate, recompense, make payment, reward, remunerate, reimburse, repay, indemnify, discharge, recoup, refund, requite, settle, reckon with, put down, lay down, remit, make restitution, make reparation, hand over, liquidate, handle, take care of, give, confer, bequeath, defray, meet, prepay, advance, expend, disburse, clear, adjust, satisfy, bear the cost, bear the expense, finance, fund, shell out*, kick in*, dig up*, plank down*, plunk down*, put up*, stake*, foot the bill*, get square with the world*, sweeten the kitty*, pick up the tab*, pick up the check*, put one's money on the line*, fork out*, fork over*, come across*, come through with*, chip in*, square*, ante up*, cough up*; see also spend 1.

    Antonyms receive*, owe*, withhold*, swindle. *

  2. To produce a profit

    return, pay off, pay out, show profit, yield profit, yield excess, show gain, pay dividends, sweeten*, kick back*, weigh out*.

    Antonyms fail*, lose*, become bankrupt.

  3. To retaliate

    repay, punish, requite; see revenge.

pay is the simple, direct word meaning to give money, etc. due for services rendered, goods received, etc.; compensate implies a return, whether monetary or not, thought of as equivalent to the service given, the effort expended, or the loss sustained one could never be compensated for the loss of a child; remunerate stresses the idea of payment for a service rendered, but it often also carries an implication of reward a bumper crop remunerated the farmer for past labors; to reimburse is to pay back what has been expended to reimburse employees for traveling expenses; to indemnify is to pay for what has been lost or damaged they were indemnified for the war destruction; repay implies a paying back of money given to one or may refer to a doing or giving of anything in requital how can I repay you for your kindness?; recompense stresses the idea of compensation or requital they felt adequately recompensed for their efforts


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pay Usage Examples

Object

  • tribute: I would like to pay tribute to all members of his family who have displayed enormous dignity throughout the investigation.

Adjective modifier

  • equal: The aim in any pay negotiations will be to secure equal pay without losers.

Modifies a noun

  • rise: We have seen large pay rises offered to other public sector workers over the past week.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • off: Mr Freeman, who is married with three children, plans to pay off his £ 80,000 loan in 12 years.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • off: You then pay off the mortgage at the end of the term with the money you have built up in the investment policy.

Noun used with modifier

  • maternity: New mothers ' entitlement to statutory maternity pay will be increased from 26 to 39 weeks next spring.

Preposition: by

  • check: Postal customers can also pay by check or postal order made payable to Carlsons Fishing Tackle ( UK customers only ).
pay usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

pay quotes

Death comes along like a gas bill one can't payöand that's all one can sayabout it.

-Wilson

Not a penny off the pay; not a second on the day.

-Cook, ArthurJames

Speak clearly, don't bump into people, and if you must have motivation think of your pay packet on Friday.

-Coward, Sir Noe«  l Peirce

pay quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"pay." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/pay>

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pay. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/pay

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