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
The money issue is driving people into higher-paying dietitian jobs in private practice or outpatient clinics, or into other fields, like nursing, said Jason Fee. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Then OpenAI and Anthropic are turning around and paying them back to rent compute? — Jack Holmes, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
Is there a 1% interest rate reduction for student loans with auto pay? — Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Walmart had been slow to adopt tap-to-pay compared with rivals. — Kimberly Tutuska, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 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
  • The official says authorities compensated residents for their land in 1957 after it was seized to build the capital city, Islamabad.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The bill would compensate community solar developers and customers at a rate that advocates say more accurately accounts for the savings solar brings to the grid, especially on hot days when the system is stressed.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • Lake Zurich and Antioch met twice last season, including in a second-round playoff game.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • Robert spent the prior six years with Chicago, hitting 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023, his best season and lone All-Star appearance.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • While higher earners had been spending more using credit cards, the institute said the gap across income classes began narrowing in May of this year.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • Abel reiterated that the company continues to see value in these investments, which have yielded strong returns for Berkshire as shares of the trading houses have grown substantially since the initial investment six years ago.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The lender then recalculates the repayment schedule, yielding a lower monthly payment.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of yield
Verb
  • Dismissing the general manager who hired Espada doesn’t bode well, but Crane made a clear distinction between the two men during the aftermath.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Scott hired Luca Khouri, a Jamaican artist, to photograph the campaign at the end of March, which was styled by Marika-Ella Ames.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of hire
Noun
  • Singletary took a pay cut to the minimum salary to stay this offseason, and then earned his spot on the roster.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The salary for a probationary officer — who usually graduates from the police academy after half a year — starts at $63,000 but jumps to $111,000, plus benefits after four and a half years of service, per the department’s 2026 pay schedule.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of salary
Noun
  • That facility charges for certain types of meeting space, yet Mazariegos’ spending report initially showed no payments or in-kind donations for such costs, Rothstein said.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The agreement includes a payment of up to $18 billion, part of which is tied to conditional action by other social media giants.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of payment
Verb
  • Because Leonard and the NBA Players Association signed off on his repaying $700,000, there was no further process that would require an arbitrator.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • If those IOUs are set to be repaid many years from now, they’re called bonds.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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