Pay definition
To give money to in return for goods or services rendered.
Pay the cashier.
verb
To make a deposit or transfer of (money)
Paid $50 into the credit union.
verb
To pay is defined as to give someone what is due, usually money, for goods or services.
An example of to pay is giving money to a server at a restaurant for a meal.
verb
To bear (a cost or penalty, for example) in recompense.
She paid the price for her unpopular opinions.
verb
To yield as a return.
A savings plan that paid six percent interest.
verb
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To give money in exchange for goods or services.
verb
To discharge a debt or obligation.
verb
Requiring payment to use or operate.
A pay toilet.
adjective
To give or bestow.
Paying compliments; paying attention.
verb
To make (a visit or call).
verb
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To let out (a line or cable) by slackening.
verb
To bear a cost or penalty in recompense.
You'll pay for this mischief!
verb
To be profitable or worthwhile.
It doesn't pay to get angry.
verb
Of, relating to, giving, or receiving payments.
adjective
Yielding valuable metal in mining.
A pay streak.
adjective
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The act of paying or state of being paid.
noun
Money given in return for work done; salary; wages.
noun
A person considered with regard to his or her credit or reliability in discharging debts.
noun
Recompense or reward.
Your thanks are pay enough.
noun
To coat or cover (seams of a ship, for example) with waterproof material such as tar or asphalt.
verb
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To give to (a person) what is due, as for goods received, services rendered, etc.; remunerate; recompense.
verb
To discharge or settle (a debt, obligation, expenses, etc.) by giving something in return.
verb
Paid employment.
The workers in our pay.
noun
Retribution or punishment.
noun
To give (what is due or owed) in return, as for goods or services.
verb
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To yield as a recompense or return.
A job that pays $90
verb
To be worthwhile or profitable to.
It will pay him to listen.
verb
To give or offer (a compliment, respects, attention, etc.)
verb
To make (a visit, call, etc.)
verb
To give due compensation; make payment.
verb
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To be profitable or worthwhile.
verb
To yield return or compensation as specified.
A stock that pays poorly.
verb
A paying or being paid; payment.
noun
Money paid, esp. for work or services; wages or salary.
noun
Anything, good or bad, given or done in return.
noun
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(now rare) A person regarded as a credit risk.
noun
Rich enough in minerals, ore, etc. to make mining profitable.
Pay gravel.
adjective
Operated or made available by depositing coins, submitting credit cards, etc.
A pay telephone, pay toilet.
adjective
Designating a service, facility, etc. paid for by subscription, fees, etc.
Pay TV.
adjective
To coat as with pitch in order to make waterproof.
To pay the seams of a wooden ship.
verb
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(intransitive) To discharge, as a debt or other obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required.
She offered to pay the bill; he has paid his debt to society.
verb
To be profitable for.
It didn't pay him to keep the store open any more.
verb
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(intransitive) To discharge an obligation or debt.
He was allowed to go as soon as he paid.
verb
(intransitive) To suffer consequences.
He paid for his fun in the sun with a terrible sunburn.
verb
Operable or accessible on deposit of coins.
Pay toilet.
adjective
Pertaining to or requiring payment.
adjective
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To give (money) in exchange for goods or services.
Paid four dollars for a hamburger; paid an hourly wage.
verb
To discharge or settle (a debt or obligation).
Paying taxes; paid the bill.
verb
To afford an advantage to; profit.
It paid us to be generous.
verb
pay (one's) dues
- To earn a given right or position through hard work, long-term experience, or suffering:She paid her dues in small-town theaters before being cast in a Broadway play.
idiom
pay (one's) way
- To contribute one's own share; pay for oneself.
idiom
pay the piper
- To bear the consequences of something.
idiom
(informal) pay through the nose
- To pay excessively.
idiom
in the pay of
- employed and paid by
idiom
pay as you go
- to pay expenses as they arise
idiom
pay back
- to repay
- to retaliate upon
idiom
pay down
- to pay (a sum of money) as a down payment, with the balance to be paid later
- to reduce (a debt) over a period of time
idiom
pay for
- to suffer or undergo punishment because of
- to atone or make amends for
idiom
pay off
- to pay all that is owed on (a debt, etc.) or to (a person, as in discharging from employment)
- to take revenge on (a wrongdoer) or for (a wrong done)
- to yield full recompense or return, for either good or evil
- to bring about a desired result; succeed
- to swing or allow to swing away from the wind
idiom
pay someone's way
- to pay someone's share of the expenses
idiom
pay out
- to give out (money, etc.); expend
- to let out (a rope, cable, etc.) gradually
idiom
pay up
- to pay in full or on time
idiom
with pay
- with wages or salary includedA two-week vacation with pay.
idiom
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
pay (one's) way
in the pay of
pay down
pay someone's way
with pay
Origin of pay
- Middle English paien from Old French paiier from Late Latin pācāre to appease from Latin to pacify, subdue from pāx pāc- peace pag- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Obsolete French peier from Old French from Latin picāre from pix pic- pitch
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English payen, from Old French paier, from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy") from Latin pacare (“to pacify"). Displaced native Middle English yelden, yielden (“to pay") (from Old English Ä¡ieldan (“to pay")), Middle English schotten (“to pay, make payment") (from Old English scot, Ä¡escot (“payment")).
From Wiktionary
- Old French peier, from Latin picare (“to pitch").
From Wiktionary