Pay meaning
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 give money to in return for goods or services rendered.
Pay the cashier.
verb
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 bear (a cost or penalty, for example) in recompense.
She paid the price for her unpopular opinions.
verb
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To yield as a return.
A savings plan that paid six percent interest.
verb
To afford an advantage to; profit.
It paid us to be generous.
verb
To give or bestow.
Paying compliments; paying attention.
verb
To make (a visit or call).
verb
To let out (a line or cable) by slackening.
verb
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To give money in exchange for goods or services.
verb
To discharge a debt or obligation.
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
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Requiring payment to use or operate.
A pay toilet.
adjective
Yielding valuable metal in mining.
A pay streak.
adjective
The act of paying or state of being paid.
noun
Money given in return for work done; salary; wages.
noun
Paid employment.
The workers in our pay.
noun
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A person considered with regard to his or her credit or reliability in discharging debts.
noun
To coat or cover (seams of a ship, for example) with waterproof material such as tar or asphalt.
verb
To give to (a person) what is due, as for goods received, services rendered, etc.; remunerate; recompense.
verb
To give (what is due or owed) in return, as for goods or services.
verb
To make a deposit or transfer of (money)
Paid $50 into the credit union.
verb
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To discharge or settle (a debt, obligation, expenses, etc.) by giving something in return.
verb
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 due compensation; make payment.
verb
To be profitable or worthwhile.
verb
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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
A person regarded as a credit risk.
noun
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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
(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
(intransitive) To discharge an obligation or debt.
He was allowed to go as soon as he paid.
verb
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(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
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
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 included.A 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 pÄcÄre (“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