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REFERENCE

pay

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈpeɪ// UK //pˈeɪ// pay
Irregular verb past paid past participle paid
  1. 1 to give money for goods or services (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to give money to someone in exchange for something you buy or for work they do.

    to remunerate a person or entity in exchange for goods provided or services rendered.

    Example

    I need to pay the driver before we get out of the taxi.

    Example

    The company agreed to pay the consultants a premium rate to ensure the project was completed before the end of the fiscal year.
    Pitfall
    I paid for the waiter.
    I paid the waiter.

    You pay a person (no preposition), but you pay for an object or service.

  2. 2 to settle a debt (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to give the money that you owe for a bill or a loan.

    to discharge a financial obligation or debt. Often used with 'off' or 'back' to indicate full settlement.

    Example

    He finally managed to pay his electricity bill after getting his salary.

    Example

    The government struggled to pay the interest on its international loans while simultaneously funding essential public services.
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  1. 3 to give attention or a compliment (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to give something that is not money, like attention, a visit, or a compliment.

    to bestow or render something non-material, such as attention, a compliment, or a visit. Usually takes a direct object.

    Example

    You should pay attention when the teacher is explaining the rules.

    Example

    The ambassador decided to pay a visit to the local community centre to address their concerns regarding the new development.
  2. 4 to be worth the effort (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to result in a benefit or to be a good use of your time.

    to result in an advantage or profit; to be worth the expenditure of time or effort. Often used intransitively.

    Example

    It really pays to plan your trip in advance to save money on flights.

    Example

    In the long run, it pays to invest in high-quality materials rather than opting for the cheapest available alternatives.
  3. 5 to suffer consequences (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to experience something bad because of a mistake you made.

    to suffer the negative consequences of an action or mistake. Often used in the phrase 'pay the price'.

    Example

    If you don't study now, you will pay for it during the exam.

    Example

    The athlete had to pay for his lack of discipline when he failed to qualify for the final round of the competition.
  4. 6 to waterproof a ship (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    to cover the seams of a wooden ship with tar or pitch to keep water out.

    to smear or coat the seams of a vessel with a waterproof substance like tar or resin. Primarily used in maritime contexts.

    Example

    The sailors had to pay the seams of the deck to keep the cabin dry.

    Example

    Before the long voyage, the crew worked tirelessly to pay the hull with pitch, ensuring the vessel remained watertight in heavy seas.

    Usage

    This is a specialized nautical term and is rarely encountered in general modern English.
  5. 7 salary or wages (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the money you receive regularly for doing your job.

    remuneration provided in exchange for labour or services; encompasses both hourly wages and fixed salaries.

    Example

    The workers are asking for better pay and shorter hours.

    Example

    The union negotiated a significant increase in basic pay for all staff members, effective from the start of the next month.
  6. 8 requiring payment (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describing something that you must pay to use.

    denoting a service or facility that requires the insertion of coins or a digital payment to operate.

    Example

    It is getting harder to find a pay phone in the city these days.

    Example

    The hotel provides free Wi-Fi in the lobby, but access in the guest rooms is a pay service.
Etymology 1

From Middle English payen, from Old French paiier (“pay”), from Medieval Latin pācāre (“to settle, satisfy”) from Latin pācāre (“to pacify”). In this sense, displaced native Old English ġield (“pay”) and ġieldan (“to pay”), whence Modern English yield.

Etymology 2

From Old French peier, from Latin picāre (“to cover with pitch”).

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