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pay

pay

 
 
pronunciation:
peI
parts of speech:
verb, noun, adjective
phrases:
pay back, pay off
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer
phrase: pay off
part of speech: verb
inflections: pays, paying, paid
definition 1: to give money to.
Dad paid me for washing the car.
 
similar words:
repay
definition 2: to make a payment for something.
I paid for the popcorn at the movie.
similar words:
buy, chip in, settle up, spend
definition 3: to settle by giving money.
He paid his bill at the restaurant.
synonyms:
repay, settle
similar words:
square
definition 4: to give (money or other item of value) in return for something.
They paid a lot of money for their new house.
definition 5: to visit or call.
We paid our grandparents a visit yesterday.
definition 6: to be worth doing or good for one.
It pays to work hard.
similar words:
assist, help, serve
definition 7: to experience revenge or punishment.
The outlaw said that he would make the sheriff pay for putting him in jail.
synonyms:
suffer
similar words:
atone, be sorry, make amends
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition: money or something else of value that is given for work.
The workers get their pay every two weeks.
synonyms:
compensation, salary, wage
similar words:
commission, earnings, fee, tip
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: adjective
definition: needing payment of money to work.
I used the pay phone at the store.
similar words:
collect
phrase: pay back
derivations: payee (n.), payer (n.)
Word History
The word pay goes back to a Latin word that means "to keep peaceful or satisfied." By the Middle Ages, "pay" meant "satisfy someone to whom you owe money."
Word Builder: pay +
  • paycheck:
    payment of your wages in the form of a check.
  • payday:
    the day when you get paid at work.
  • pay stub:
    part of your paycheck that you keep. It shows how much you earned and deductions
Word Explorer
See
  bank, business, money, tax, work