pay 1 of 2

verb

ˈpā How to pronounce pay (audio)
Definition of paynext
1
as in to compensate
to give (someone) the sum of money owed for goods or services received we need to pay the cashier and then we can leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to meet
to give what is owed for you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment rock fans were willing to pay enormous sums to get into the concert

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to yield
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to hire
to provide with a paying job pay someone to mow the lawn for the summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pay

2 of 2

noun

1
as in salary
the money paid regularly to a person for labor or services it's difficult to support two children on her pay

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in payment
something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services we should demand pay for all the overtime we're putting in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pay are compensate, indemnify, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, repay, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When might compensate be a better fit than pay?

The words compensate and pay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When can indemnify be used instead of pay?

Although the words indemnify and pay have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When would recompense be a good substitute for pay?

The meanings of recompense and pay largely overlap; however, recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When could reimburse be used to replace pay?

The synonyms reimburse and pay are sometimes interchangeable, but reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

Where would remunerate be a reasonable alternative to pay?

In some situations, the words remunerate and pay are roughly equivalent. However, remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

When is it sensible to use repay instead of pay?

While in some cases nearly identical to pay, repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

When is satisfy a more appropriate choice than pay?

While the synonyms satisfy and pay are close in meaning, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pay
Verb
At that airport, travelers paid an average domestic fare of roughly $289. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026 Nonprofit organizations can exhibit free while participating vendors will pay a $50 fee. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
Identifying initiatives that boost funding for schools across all districts, and ensuring teacher pay raises. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 About 13% of the total federal civilian workforce is implicated, with most forced to work without pay, according to DHS and Office of Personnel Management data. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay
  1. compensate
  2. meet
  3. spend
  4. yield
  5. hire
  6. salary
  7. payment
  8. repay
Verb
  • Lawyers, at times, were not compensated at all for this work.
    — Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Artists are compensated in other ways, though.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • The Palladium provides more generous guest access for airport lounges (up to two complimentary guests without having to meet a high spending threshold).
    — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Gilbert says that recently, someone told her about traveling alone in Asia and meeting another woman, in Thailand, who was also traveling on her own.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • Paul has a reputation for taking collectibles to extreme levels and has spent millions to secure some of the rarest items ever produced, including NFTs - unique, verifiable digital assets traded on the blockchain.
    — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Despite our diversity, each of us spent many years in private practice before the Arkansas courts before ascending to service on the state's highest court.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • The temporary 2% increase would yield $44 million per fiscal year in tax revenue, and the 1% increase would bring in half that after 2028, according to City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • That round of talks, in Abu Dhabi, yielded the first prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia in five months and a vague agreement to continue negotiating, but no apparent progress on the major hurdles to a wider peace deal.
    — Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of yield
Verb
  • David Plotz, the CEO of City Cast, told Semafor in a phone call that the local podcast network was expanding its coverage of Washington as a direct result of the Post’s pullback, and would be immediately hiring four multi-platform journalists.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of hire
Noun
  • Baseball owners, with Dick Monfort playing a prominent role as a hawk in labor negotiations, are expected to lock out the players after this season, seeking a salary cap, believing that is the only reason the Dodgers win.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
  • That name change also came several months after Adtalem settled lawsuits with both the FTC and the Education Department over charges related to DeVry’s post-graduate job and salary claims.
    — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of salary
Noun
  • See video … LISTEN Tune in to learn how billions in taxpayer dollars are lost each year to fraud and improper payments—and whether Congress can rein in the waste.
    — , FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Millions are behind on loan payments and at risk of default this year.
    — Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of payment
Verb
  • After serving her sentence, Thomas was ordered to repay $325,159 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture.
    — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The lender gives money up front and then takes a weekly or daily cut of receipts directly from the borrower's bank account until the debt is repaid and then some.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of repay

Phrases Containing pay

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paws
pay
payable
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Cite this Entry

“Pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pay

Nglish: Translation of pay for Spanish Speakers

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