pay
/pei/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To give money in exchange for goods or services or to settle a debt: The primary meaning of "pay" involves transferring money to someone as compensation, for a purchase, or to fulfill an obligation.
- To give something owed, such as attention or a visit: "Pay" can also mean to give something non-monetary that is due, like respect, attention, or a compliment.
- To be profitable or worthwhile: When something "pays," it yields a benefit or profit, making the effort involved worthwhile.
- To suffer consequences: To "pay" can mean to bear a penalty or negative consequence for an action.
Noun:
- Money received for work: "Pay" refers to wages or salary earned from employment.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- I need to pay the bill for dinner. (Giving money for a service.)
- She paid her debts last month. (Settling an obligation.)
- Please pay attention to the instructions. (Giving something non-monetary that is due.)
- It pays to be honest in the long run. (Being worthwhile or beneficial.)
- He will pay for his mistakes. (Suffering consequences.)
Noun:
- Her weekly pay is deposited directly into her bank account. (Money received for work.)
Advanced Usage
"pay through the nose": To pay an excessively high price for something.
- They had to pay through the nose for last-minute tickets.
"pay one's way": To cover one's own expenses without incurring debt or relying on others.
- She worked hard to pay her way through college.
"pay dividends": To yield benefits or advantages in the future.
- Investing in your education will pay dividends later in your career.
Variants and Related Words
Payment (n): The act of paying or the money paid.
- We require payment upon delivery.
Payable (adj): Required to be paid; due.
- The invoice is payable within 30 days.
Payer (n): A person or entity that makes a payment.
- The payer is listed on the check.
Synonyms
- Compensate: To give someone money or something else of value in return for something.
- Remunerate: To pay someone for services rendered or work done.
- Settle: To pay a debt or bill.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Pay back: To return money that was borrowed; to take revenge.
- I will pay you back next week. (Return money.)
- He vowed to pay his enemy back for the insult. (Take revenge.)
Pay off: To finish paying money owed; to yield a successful result.
- They finally paid off their mortgage. (Finish paying debt.)
- All her hard work paid off when she got the promotion. (Yielded success.)
Pay up: To pay money that is owed, especially when demanded.
- The landlord told the tenant to pay up or face eviction.
Related Idioms
He who pays the piper calls the tune: The person who provides the money for something has the right to decide how it is used.
- The investor made all the decisions because, after all, he who pays the piper calls the tune.
Pay for one's whistle: To pay a high price for a trivial pleasure or whim.
- Buying that expensive sports car was just him paying for his whistle.
Noun
- something that remunerates
- wages were paid by check
- he wasted his pay on drink
- they saved a quarter of all their earnings
Verb
- discharge or settle
- pay a debt
- pay an obligation
- make a compensation for
- a favor that cannot be paid back
- bear (a cost or penalty), in recompense for some action
- You'll pay for this!
- She had to pay the penalty for speaking out rashly
- You'll pay for this opinion later
- render
- pay a visit
- pay a call
- be worth it
- It pays to go through the trouble
- dedicate
- give thought to
- give priority to
- pay attention to
- do or give something to somebody in return
- Does she pay you for the work you are doing?
- bring in
- interest-bearing accounts
- How much does this savings certificate pay annually?
- cancel or discharge a debt
- pay up, please!
- convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow
- Don't pay him any mind
- give the orders
- Give him my best regards
- pay attention
- give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
- I paid four dollars for this sandwich
- Pay the waitress, please