Definitions

pay up

VERB

compensate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

atone pay recoup refund reimburse repay reward satisfy take care of

STRONG

commit indemnify recompense remunerate requite

WEAK

come down with guerdon make good plank out pony up shell out tickle the palm

Antonyms

STRONGEST

lose penalize take

WEAK

damage deprive fine forfeit

VERB

discharge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

pay in full pay off settle

STRONG

clear disburse honor liquidate meet quit relieve satisfy

WEAK

square up

Antonyms

WEAK

owe

VERB

remunerate

Synonyms

STRONG

accord award grant indemnify pay post recompense redress reimburse repay requite vouchsafe

WEAK

ante up dish out do business guerdon pay off shell out spring for

Antonyms

STRONG

deny refuse take withhold

WEAK

charge seize

VERB

spend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

allocate concentrate consume contribute donate drop employ expend give invest put in settle use waste

STRONG

absorb apply bestow blow confer defray deplete disburse dispense dissipate drain empty exhaust fritter lavish liquidate misspend squander

WEAK

ante up cast away come across come through cough up evote foot the bill hand out lay out outlay pay down run through shell out spring for throw away use up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build hold keep neglect save shun take take away withhold

STRONG

fill hoard set aside

WEAK

be lazy earn get receive

VERB

square

Synonyms

STRONG

balance bribe buy clear corrupt discharge fix have liquidate pay quit rig settle

WEAK

buy off clear off clear up make even tamper with

Antonyms

STRONG

keep unsettle

WEAK

disagree owe

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.

But the licensing officer threatened to pull the plug on the show if the orchestra didn’t pay up, baffling musicians who joined their conductor to see what was causing the delay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2026

That meant the 16 states that made up the Union were forced to pay up.

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2026

When she tried to stop her lessons Westwood told her she was bound by a contract requiring her to complete 365 lessons or pay up to £36,000.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026

That K shape, they said, has increasingly been molded by so-called superfans — artists’ most devoted followers, who are willing to pay up for seats at the front of the house and VIP packages.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026

This could mean either: Junior said that on Friday he would pay up, or Junior said on Friday that he would pay up.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

pay up

Example Sentences

Related Words