1
a
: a payment usually of money for labor or services usually according to contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
b
wages plural
: the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production
2
: recompense, reward
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
… the wages of sin is death …—
Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
waged; waging
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
: to be in process of occurring
… the riot waged for several hours …—Amer. Guide Series: Md.
Amer. Guide Series: Md.Examples of wage in a Sentence
Noun
Both of them make decent wages.
The table and chairs cost two weeks' wages.
The company offers competitive wages and good benefits.
The company gave workers a four percent wage increase this year.
Verb
They waged a guerrilla war against the government.
Local activists are waging a campaign to end homelessness in the region.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
That’s a huge gap, and low-wage workers fared even worse.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
In his Easter homily, the pope singled out those who wage war, abuse the weak and prioritize profits.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wage
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Noun
Given that the top players’ wages are linked to the cap total, this means the maximum salaries are expected to expand dramatically in years to come for young superstars including Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs or the Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
That’s a huge gap, and low-wage workers fared even worse.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Watching people online waging battles with chess pieces seemed a whole lot safer than dealing with the reality of a global plague.
—Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
In his Easter homily, the pope singled out those who wage war, abuse the weak and prioritize profits.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wage
Cite this Entry
“Wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wage
1 of 2 verb
waged; waging
1
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
2
: to be in the process of occurring
the battle waged for hours
wage
2 of 2 noun1
: a payment for work or services usually calculated on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
2
singular or plural
: something given or received because of one's actions : reward
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