pays 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of pay
1
as in compensates
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 meets
to give what is owed for you ought to pay that bill before it's overdue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in yields
to produce as revenue an investment paying six percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

pays

2 of 2

noun

plural of pay

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 pays
Verb
The agency also pays for 10 shelter beds at the Gateway Center and Salvation Army. Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 18 June 2026 The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund—the primary fund that pays retirement benefits—is now projected to run dry in 2032, one year sooner than last year’s estimate. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 June 2026 Even if customers continue to choose Anthropic’s models, SpaceX sees upside from the rent the Claude-maker pays to use Musk’s Colossus data center. Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 17 June 2026 The governor is also connected to the nonprofit California State Protocol Foundation, which pays for expenses Newsom incurs in his political activities. Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026 The company was founded by William Morris Agency veterans Steven Kram and Steven Blume to help provide liquidity to people and companies that have ownership interests in movies, TV shows, recordings, books, plays and other IP that pays out consistent royalties. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 June 2026 If an outcome takes place, the market pays out for each share purchased by those who guessed correctly. Matt Motta, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 The tax money pays for the salaries of about 1,200 teachers, 740 drama and music teachers, and 50 athletic coaches and trainers, according to district data, and also helps pay for extracurricular activities, athletics and field trips. Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2026 At the end of the evening all guests received a copy of the stunning new book Santo Domingo, published by the prestigious Assouline publishing house, which pays homage to the country’s vibrant capital city, its rich history, and its exhilarating future. Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Noun
Just to cover the city’s various bond measures, the owner of a home with an assessed value of $1 million pays around $1,145 annually. Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 Even with premiums, co-pays and deductibles, the federal government cannot afford Medicare-for-some. Editorial Board, Washington Post, 26 May 2026 In return, doctors offer a more thorough annual physical, same-day appointments, no co-pays and more time with the patient. Chris Tomlinson, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026 Health insurance plans are designed to include some level of cost-sharing, such as co-pays or co-insurance. Fennemore, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026 Tax revenue from sports gambling pays for water projects across the state. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 The final version of the bill walks back many of the more drastic changes that originally appeared in HB 2, including lowering co-pays, easing up on redetermination and allowing for hardship waivers. Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Apr. 2026 Additionally, 80% said all health care costs -- including premiums, deductibles, co-pays or coinsurance -- are higher. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026 Lower doses also mean lower spending — both for the patient (who is responsible for co-pays) and CMS. Mark J. Ratain, STAT, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays
Verb
  • The software continuously compensates for momentum, helping maintain accurate positioning during movement, according to its website.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
  • There is no meaningful amount of last-minute effort that compensates for months of unfocused or incomplete readiness.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Lightweight summer texture meets a structured, work-worthy shape.
    Aemilia Madden, Vogue, 18 June 2026
  • Kelley Dennings is a campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity and a leading member of the Food Code and Reuse Committee, which meets regularly to advocate for reuse-friendly state and federal food code changes and reuse infrastructure.
    Kelley Dennings, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Magloire, who once dreamed of becoming a professional soccer career and has mixed feelings about the World Cup’s current state, nowadays spends more time thinking about movements on a stage than on a soccer field.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
  • When a company spends that much political capital warning about existential risk, policymakers eventually act on those warnings.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • This always-popular recipe yields a moist, fluffy loaf that's loaded with zucchini flavor and crunch from buttery walnuts.
    Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026
  • Borrowing costs fell sharply on Thursday, with 10-year Treasury yields down as much as 8 basis points, with yields on the 2-year and 30-year also firmly lower, after Trump called off plans for fresh strikes against Iran.
    Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • The startup currently employs 150 people.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
  • New jobs in Cabarrus County The Concord location employs 19 people with four open positions.
    Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • The district will see a decrease in spending from the general fund on salaries, due to position cuts and retiree savings.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2026
  • Illinois lawmakers are also in line for a roughly 3% pay raise, which will bring their base salaries to $101,450.
    Ben Szalinski, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • They would instead be limited to standard repayment plans, which can mean higher monthly payments and no path to PSLF.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • Marshall, a Boston-area native who now lives in Queens, allegedly repeatedly failed to pay her workers or gave them only partial payments.
    Katie Houlis, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The bond also has a maturity date, which is when the issuer repays the principal.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The Creature repays the favor by using his strength to free the ship from its icy prison.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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