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
Fans rushed the field afterward, and the Vols will gladly pay the SEC fine. — Mark Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 In big cities, people like this tend to pay rent, which often puts them—to borrow some Marxist terminology—in an antagonistic relationship with the local petite bourgeoisie. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
The cash-pay model includes a free intake with no membership or consultation fee, with treatment delivered directly to the patient. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Unions can also be powerful tools for combating racial pay discrimination; the new report shows tripling union membership would narrow the racial wage gap by more than a third. — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 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
  • In which case, who is ultimately on the hook to compensate any victims?
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Government spending remains well above its peers in the politically sensitive realm of social protections, particularly pensions and healthcare, while tepid economic growth has failed to compensate.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees vehicle safety, largely relies on automakers to certify that their cars meet federal standards.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Even a slight misalignment could leave visible defects where colors meet, while four hotends introduce more components that could potentially fail.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • The frontman said he was humbled by the action and was touched to spend time with members of the Minneapolis community who worked on the front lines during the ICE surge.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI, for example, expects to spend more than $25 billion on training alone this year.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • Bryan echoing the Truckers is very good news, since their own rambunctious salad days eventually yielded some of this century’s best American anthems.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
  • For a similar reason, Sydney Sweeney’s Novig campaign yielded tens of millions of views and a $2 billion valuation.
    — Luka Ladan, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of yield
Verb
  • And as the most recent press secretary found out, you can be fired from the position just as quickly as you were hired.
    — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Cowboys brought Mike Pettine out of retirement, hiring him as a senior defensive assistant to help out Christian Parker, the team’s defensive coordinator, get this group back on track.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of hire
Noun
  • Cap concerns Shaikin wrote about a lockout expected this winter as Major League Baseball owners attempt to implement a salary cap, which limits the amount of money a team can spend on player salaries.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • If Richards is still on the Heat’s roster on Wednesday, his full salary for the season will be guaranteed.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of salary
Noun
  • Upgrading to the Thrust Variant requires a $245,000 follow-up payment and adds SpaceX cold-gas rear thrusters alongside an active multi-mode fan system for downforce, cutting acceleration down to under a second.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The language suggests the deal involves obligations that have yet to be fulfilled, potentially including a financial payment.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of payment
Verb
  • Lenders may also consider other factors, such as your employment history and existing debt, when evaluating your ability to repay the loan.
    — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That surprise vote in May prompted state lawmakers to threaten to force Charlotte and other local governments to repay hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the project.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of repay

Phrases Containing pay

Browse Nearby Words

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 21 Oct. 2026.

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