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Definitions

pay

[pey] / peɪ /
NOUN
earnings from employment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allowance compensation fee income payment profit reimbursement remuneration reward salary stipend wage
STRONG
bacon bread commission consideration defrayment emoluments hire honorarium indemnity meed perquisite pittance proceeds reckoning recompense redress reparation requital return satisfaction scale settlement takings wages
WEAK
recompensation stipendium take-home
Antonyms
STRONGEST
debt loss penalty
VERB
give money for goods, services
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compensate disburse extend grant handle meet offer present refund reimburse repay settle
STRONG
adjust bequeath bestow clear confer defray discharge foot honor liquidate prepay proffer recompense recoup remit remunerate render requite reward satisfy stake
WEAK
bear the cost bear the expense chip in come through cough up dig up foot the bill hand over kick in make payment plunk down put up take care of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny deprive hold penalize refuse take take back withhold
STRONG
confuse dishonor dissatisfy dissuade fail keep upset
WEAK
earn lose
VERB
be advantageous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
benefit repay serve
WEAK
be worthwhile
Antonyms
STRONGEST
take
WEAK
earn lose
VERB
make amends
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compensate
STRONG
answer atone suffer
WEAK
be punished suffer consequences
Antonyms
WEAK
earn lose
VERB
profit, yield
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bring in pay off produce return
STRONG
sweeten
WEAK
be profitable be remunerative kick back make a return make money pay dividends pay out provide a living show gain show profit yield profit
Antonyms
WEAK
earn lose
VERB
get revenge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
pay back repay
STRONG
punish reciprocate recompense requite retaliate square
WEAK
avenge oneself get even make up for pay one's dues settle a score square things
Antonyms
STRONG
refuse
WEAK
earn lose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pay can vary widely depending on specialization, setting and hours.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

If you then use Apple or Google Pay to make your purchase, your phone tracks what you bought and how much you paid.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

Pay has likewise kept pace, the magazine noted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Pay parity is the principle that public sector workers in Northern Ireland, such as teachers and nurses, should get broadly equivalent pay to those in other parts of the UK.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

We were going down the stairs into the milling men now and she started to scream, "Pay me then! If he's too good for me, let him pay!"

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison