Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense pays, present participle paying, past tense, past participle paid
1. verb
When you pay an amount of money to someone, you give it to them because you are buying something from them or becauseyou owe it to them. When you pay something such as a bill or a debt, you pay the amount that you owe.
Accommodation is free–all you pay for is breakfast and dinner. [VERB + for]
We paid £35 for each ticket. [VERB noun + for]
The wealthier may have to pay a little more in taxes. [VERB noun]
He proposes that businesses should pay taxes to the federal government. [VERB noun + to]
You can pay by credit card. [VERB adverb/preposition]
2. verb
When you are paid, you get your wages or salary from your employer.
The lawyer was paid a huge salary. [be/getV-ed n]
I get paid monthly. [get/beV-ed adv]
They could wander where they wished and take jobs from who paid best. [VERB adverb]
3. uncountable noun
Your pay is the money that you get from your employer as wages or salary.
...their complaints about their pay and conditions.
...the workers' demand for a twenty per cent pay rise.
Synonyms: wages, income, payment, earnings More Synonyms of pay
4. verb
If you are paidto do something, someone gives you some money so that you will help them or performsome service for them.
Students were paid substantial sums of money to do nothing all day but lie in bed. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
If you help me, I'll pay you anything. [VERB noun noun]
5. verb
If a government or organization makes someone payfor something, it makes them responsible for providing the money for it, for exampleby increasing prices or taxes.
...an international treaty that establishes who must pay for environmental damage. [VERB + for]
If you don't subsidize ballet and opera, seat prices will have to go up to pay forit. [VERB + for]
[Also VERB]
6. verb
If a job, deal, or investment pays a particular amount, it brings you that amount of money.
We're stuck in jobs that don't pay very well. [VERB adverb]
The account does not pay interest on a credit balance. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If a job, deal, or investment pays, it brings you a profit or earns you some money.
There are some agencies now specialising in helping older people to find jobs whichpay. [VERB]
They owned land; they made it pay. [VERB]
8. verb
When you pay money into a bank account, you put the money in the account.
He paid £20 into his savings account. [VERB noun + into]
There is nothing more annoying than queueing when you only want to pay in a few cheques. [VERB noun with adverb]
9. verb
If a course of action pays, it results in some advantage or benefit for you.
It pays to invest in protective clothing. [VERB to-infinitive]
He talked of defending small nations, of ensuring that aggression does not pay. [VERB]
Synonyms: benefit, serve, repay, be worthwhile More Synonyms of pay
10. verb
If you payfor something that you do or have, you suffer as a result of it.
Britain was to pay dearly for its lack of resolve. [VERB + for]
Why should I pay the penalty for somebody else's mistake? [VERB noun + for]
She feels it's a small price to pay for the pleasure of living in this delightfulhouse. [VERB noun + for]
[Also VERB]
11. verb
You use pay with some nouns, for example in the expressions pay a visit and pay attention, to indicate that something is given or done.
Do pay us a visit next time you're in Birmingham. [VERB noun noun]
He felt a heavy bump, but paid no attention to it. [VERB noun + to]
He had nothing to do with arranging the funeral, but came along to pay his last respects. [VERB noun]
12. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Pay television consists of programmes and channels which are not part of a public broadcasting system, and for which people have to pay.
...the top 100 programmes on pay television in Australia.
13. See also paid, sick pay
14.
See pay for itself
15.
See in the pay of
16.
See to pay your way
17. to pay dividends
18. to pay through the nose
19. he who pays the piper calls the tune
Phrasal verbs:
See pay back
See pay off
See pay out
See pay up
More Synonyms of pay
pay in British English1
(peɪ)
verbWord forms: pays, paying or paid
1.
to discharge (a debt, obligation, etc) by giving or doing something
he paid his creditors
2. (whenintr, often foll by for)
to give (money) to (a person) in return for goods or services
they pay their workers well
they pay by the hour
3.
to give or afford (a person) a profit or benefit
it pays one to be honest
4. (transitive)
to give or bestow (a compliment, regards, attention, etc)
5. (transitive)
to make (a visit or call)
6. (intransitive; often foll byfor)
to give compensation or make amends
7. (transitive)
to yield a return of
the shares pay 15 per cent
8.
to give or do (something equivalent) in return; pay back
he paid for the insult with a blow
9. (tr; past tense and past participle paid or payed) nautical
to allow (a vessel) to make leeway
10. Australian informal
to acknowledge or accept (something) as true, just, etc
11. pay one's way
noun
12.
a.
money given in return for work or services; a salary or wage
b.
(as modifier)
pay claim
pay grade
13.
paid employment (esp in the phrase in the pay of)
14. (modifier)
requiring the insertion of money or discs before or during use
a pay phone
a pay toilet
15. (modifier)
rich enough in minerals to be profitably mined or worked
pay gravel
Word origin
C12: from Old French payer, from Latin pācāre to appease (a creditor), from pāxpeace
pay in British English2
(peɪ)
verbWord forms: pays, paying or payed
(transitive) nautical
to caulk (the seams of a wooden vessel) with pitch or tar
Word origin
C17: from Old French peier, from Latin picāre, from pix pitch
pay in American English1
(peɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: paid or Obsoletepayed, ˈpaying
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
5.
a.
to give or offer (a compliment, respects, attention, etc.)
b.
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
verb intransitive
8.
to give due compensation; make payment
9.
to be profitable or worthwhile
10.
to yield return or compensation as specified
a stock that pays poorly
noun
11.
a paying or being paid; payment
12.
money paid, esp. for work or services; wages or salary
13.
anything, good or bad, given or done in return
adjective
14.
rich enough in minerals, ore, etc. to make mining profitable
pay gravel
15.
operated or made available by depositing coins, submitting credit cards, etc.
a pay telephone, pay toilet
16.
designating a service, facility, etc. paid for by subscription, fees, etc.
pay TV
SIMILAR WORDS: wage
Idioms:
in the pay of
pay as you go
pay back
pay down
pay for
pay off
pay someone's way
pay out
pay up
with pay
SYNONYMY NOTE: pay1 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 servicegiven, the effort expended, or the loss sustained [one can never be compensated for the loss of a child]; remunerate stresses the idea of payment for a service rendered, but it often also carries animplication of reward [a bumper crop remunerated the farmer for past labors]; to reimburse is to pay back what has been expended [salesmen are reimbursed for traveling expenses]; to indemnify is to pay for what has been lost or damaged [they were indemnified for the house fire]; repay implies a paying back of money given to one or it may refer to a doing or givingof anything in return [how can I repay your kindness?]; recompense recompense stresses the idea of compensation or requital
Word origin
ME paien, to pay, satisfy < OFr paier < L pacare, to pacify < pax, peace
pay in American English2
(peɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: payed or ˈpaying
to coat as with pitch in order to make waterproof
to pay the seams of a wooden ship
Word origin
OFr peier < L picare, to cover with pitch < pix, UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
pay in Hospitality
(peɪ)
Word forms: (present) pays, (past) paid, (perfect) paid, (progressive) paying
verb
(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, dining)
When you pay something such as a check or a debt, you pay the amount that you owe.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ a fee~ cash
I'd like to pay by check.
I must ask you to pay for your meal before you leave.
You can pay for your stay with a credit card.
More idioms containing
pay
there'll be hell to pay
pay dividends
pay someone back in their own coin
pay through the nose for something
pay over the odds
hit pay dirt
if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys
rob Peter to pay Paul
pay lip service to something
Examples of 'pay' in a sentence
pay
You should always have your own bank account and ensure your salary is paid into it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But leaked messages between members of their committee show they are concerned about pay.
The Sun (2016)
We must pay great attention because when you arrive after three defeats you are very dangerous.
The Sun (2017)
The number of people getting paid is staggering.
The Sun (2016)
Too much money is wasted paying over the top for products.
The Sun (2017)
You may not have to resort to selling or setting up a company to pay less tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Would all those who rent their home pay for all work to be done?
The Sun (2016)
But we've got enough meat on the bone to make a sensible profit and pay a good return.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you can tie up your money for a while, fixed-term accounts tend to pay more.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
On a preliminary issue the judge found that the defendants were liable to pay all arrears claimed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most bonuses are set and paid out in the following four months.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The way people are paid is also a factor.
The Sun (2010)
The total score determines the pay grade to which a job will be assigned.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Why would a consumer pay for something they can get for free somewhere else?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Workers were passive and expected their firms to provide undemanding paid employment.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
The system of paying back loans makes dealing with student debt easy to manage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But what if an employer pays for this insurance by reducing the salaries of its employees?
Christianity Today (2000)
You do not get useful personnel if you do not pay them enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It seemed like they must have paid a public relations person to come up with this nonsense.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Millions of public sector workers face modest pay rises and discontent is likely to grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They have cashed in her return ticket and paid off the bar bill.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
Those in purple are more likely to get a pay rise and drive nicer cars.
The Sun (2012)
The company froze pay and pushed through compulsory redundancies.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And more attention can be paid to character and atmosphere.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The growing complexity and sophistication of payment arrangements raises all sorts of questions about pay composition.
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
We then receive calls and pay over the phone.
The Sun (2014)
Younger cast members are said to be demanding pay rises for the extra work.
The Sun (2016)
Would they not prefer to drip money in as needed rather than pay the full amount now?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It urges consumers buying cheap policies to consider whether their insurer could pay any claim made.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We consider the ability to set the pay and conditions of staff to be one of the key freedoms of academy status.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The hospital trust will also pay part of her 100,000 legal fees.
The Sun (2014)
I was a bit shocked to see my two main accounts were paying 0%.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The other 30 per cent pay too much to their energy supplier because they're on the right tariff.
The Sun (2012)
Quotations
He who pays the piper calls the tune
You pays your money and you takes your choice
In other languages
pay
British English: pay /peɪ/ NOUN
Your pay is the money that you get from your employer as wages or salary.
...their complaints about their pay and conditions.
American English: pay
Arabic: دَفْعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pagamento
Chinese: 薪水
Croatian: plaća
Czech: plat
Danish: betaling
Dutch: loon
European Spanish: paga
Finnish: palkka
French: paye
German: Lohn
Greek: αμοιβή
Italian: stipendio
Japanese: 給料
Korean: 지급
Norwegian: betaling
Polish: zapłata
European Portuguese: pagamento
Romanian: venit
Russian: плата
Latin American Spanish: pago
Swedish: lön
Thai: ค่าแรง
Turkish: maaş
Ukrainian: плата
Vietnamese: tiền lương
British English: pay /peɪ/ VERB
When you pay an amount of money to someone, you give it to them because you are buying something from them or because you owe it to them.
Richer people may have to pay more in taxes.
American English: pay
Arabic: يَدْفَعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pagar
Chinese: 付钱
Croatian: platiti
Czech: platit penězi
Danish: betale
Dutch: betalen
European Spanish: pagar
Finnish: maksaa suorittaa maksu
French: payer
German: zahlen
Greek: πληρώνω
Italian: pagare
Japanese: 支払う
Korean: 지불하다
Norwegian: betale
Polish: zapłacić
European Portuguese: pagar
Romanian: a plăti
Russian: платить
Latin American Spanish: pagar
Swedish: betala
Thai: จ่าย
Turkish: ödemek
Ukrainian: платити
Vietnamese: thanh toán
All related terms of 'pay'
pay in
to hand (money, a cheque , etc) to a cashier for depositing in a bank, etc
pay-TV
pay television
pay up
If you pay up , you give someone the money that you owe them or that they are entitled to, even though you would prefer not to give it.
pay bed
(in Britain) a hospital bed whose occupant receives free treatment but pays for nonmedical advantages , such as privacy
pay cut
a decrease in pay or salary
pay day
Pay day is the day of the week or month on which you receive your wages or salary .
pay for
to make payment (of) for
pay gap
A gap between two groups of people, things, or sets of ideas is a big difference between them.
pay off
If you pay off a debt, you give someone all the money that you owe them.
pay out
If you pay out money, usually a large amount, you spend it on something.
pre-pay
If you pre-pay something or pre-pay for it, you pay for it before you receive it or use it.
back pay
Back pay is money which an employer owes an employee for work that he or she did in the past .
base pay
the basic rate of pay for a particular job exclusive of overtime pay, bonuses , etc.
equal pay
the right of a man or woman to receive the same pay as a person of the opposite sex doing the same or similar work for the same or a similar employer
full pay
the full amount of wages of salary
half pay
half the usual salary or wages
pay award
a bonus or increase in pay or salary
pay back
If you pay back some money that you have borrowed or taken from someone, you give them an equal sum of money at a later time.
Pay Board
a former government agency that controlled prices and wages
pay claim
the wage or salary asked for workers by trade union representatives from employers
pay deal
a negotiation or agreement concerning pay or salary
pay desk
the counter in a shop where customers pay for goods
pay dirt
a deposit rich enough in minerals to be worth mining
pay down
to pay (a sum of money ) at the time of purchase as the first of a series of instalments
pay grade
the position at which an employee stands on a scale of remunerations
pay offer
an offer of a certain amount of wages or salary
pay phone
a public telephone , usually coin-operated
pay raise
an increase in wages or salary
pay rise
British → another name for pay raise
pay scale
the range of salary paid for a particular job , often going up in increments
pay zone
A pay zone is a reservoir or part of a reservoir that contains hydrocarbons that can be extracted economically .
sick pay
When you are ill and unable to work, sick pay is the money that you get from your employer instead of your normal wages.
with pay
with wages or salary included
hazard pay
danger money
holiday pay
the salary a worker receives for days taken off work
pay cheque
Your pay cheque is a piece of paper that your employer gives you as your wages or salary, and which you can then cash at a bank . You can also use pay cheque as a way of referring to your wages or salary.
pay damages
If a court of law awards damages to someone, it orders money to be paid to them by a person who has damaged their reputation or property, or who has injured them.
pay dispute
a disagreement between workers and employers concerning salary
pay packet
Your pay packet is the envelope containing your wages, which your employer gives you at the end of every week .
pay policy
A policy is a set of ideas or plans that is used as a basis for making decisions , especially in politics , economics , or business.
pay station
a machine where you can pay for parking , as in a car park, etc
retired pay
retirement pay ; pension
strike pay
money paid to strikers from the funds of a trade union
payt
payment
boardroom pay
the salaries and bonuses given to the directors of a company
executive pay
the money that an executive of an organization gets as wages or salary
incentive pay
additional pay, a higher wage , or a bonus paid to promote the productivity of an employee
maternity pay
the pay a woman receives from her work during her absence immediately before and after childbirth
overtime pay
a higher than normal rate of pay, for work done as overtime
pay attention
If you pay attention to someone, you watch them, listen to them, or take notice of them. If you pay no attention to someone, you behave as if you are not aware of them or as if they are not important .
Chinese translation of 'pay'
pay
(peɪ)
Word forms:ptpppaid
n(u)
(= wage, salary) 工资(資) (gōngzī)
⇒ The pay is dreadful.工资低微。 (Gōngzī dīwēi.)
vt
[debt, bill, tax]付 (fù)
[person] (as wage, salary)
to get paid发(發)工资(資) (fā gōngzī) (for goods, services) 付给(給) (fùgěi)
to pay sb sth (as wage, salary, for goods, services) 付给(給)某人某物 (fùgěi mǒurén mǒuwù)
vi
(= be profitable, beneficial) 有利 (yǒulì)
how much did you pay for it?你买(買)那个(個)花了多少钱(錢)? (nǐ mǎi nàge huāle duōshǎo qián?)
I paid 10 pounds for that record我买(買)那张(張)唱片花了10英镑(鎊) (wǒ mǎi nà zhāng chàngpiàn huāle shí yīngbàng)
to pay the price or penalty for sth (fig) 为(為)某事付出代价(價) (wèi mǒushì fùchū dàijià)
to pay one's way自谋(謀)生路 (zì móu shēnglù)
it pays to be cautious小心谨(謹)慎不吃亏(虧) (xiǎoxīn jǐnshèn bù chīkuī)
All related terms of 'pay'
pay day
发(發)薪日 fāxīnrì
pay for
( purchases ) 买(買) mǎi
pay in
( money, cheque ) 存入账(賬)户(戶) cúnrù zhànghù
pay off
( debt, mortgage ) 还(還)清 huánqīng
pay out
( rope ) 松(鬆)出 sōngchū
pay up
( person, company ) 付清 fùqīng
pay back
( money, loan ) 偿(償)还(還) chánghuán
pay slip
薪水单(單) xīnshuǐdān [ 张(張) zhāng ]
sick pay
病假工资(資) bìngjià gōngzī
pay packet
工资(資)袋 gōngzīdài [ 个(個) gè ] [ 美 = pay envelope ]
pay envelope
工资(資)袋 gōngzīdài [ 个(個) gè ] [ 英 = pay packet ]
to pay sb sth
( as wage, salary, for goods, services ) 付给(給)某人某物 fùgěi mǒurén mǒuwù