# pay

/ˈpeɪ/ (US) · /pˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pay
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to give money for goods or services

verb · CEFR A1

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

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

- I need to pay the driver before we get out of the taxi.
- The company agreed to pay the consultants a premium rate to ensure the project was completed before the end of the fiscal year.

### 2. to settle a debt

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- He finally managed to pay his electricity bill after getting his salary.
- The government struggled to pay the interest on its international loans while simultaneously funding essential public services.

### 3. to give attention or a compliment

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- You should pay attention when the teacher is explaining the rules.
- The ambassador decided to pay a visit to the local community centre to address their concerns regarding the new development.

### 4. to be worth the effort

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- It really pays to plan your trip in advance to save money on flights.
- In the long run, it pays to invest in high-quality materials rather than opting for the cheapest available alternatives.

### 5. to suffer consequences

verb · CEFR B2

to experience something bad because of a mistake you made.

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

- If you don't study now, you will pay for it during the exam.
- The athlete had to pay for his lack of discipline when he failed to qualify for the final round of the competition.

### 6. to waterproof a ship

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

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

### 7. salary or wages

noun · CEFR A2

the money you receive regularly for doing your job.

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

- The workers are asking for better pay and shorter hours.
- The union negotiated a significant increase in basic pay for all staff members, effective from the start of the next month.

### 8. requiring payment

adjective · CEFR B1

describing something that you must pay to use.

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

- It is getting harder to find a pay phone in the city these days.
- The hotel provides free Wi-Fi in the lobby, but access in the guest rooms is a pay service.

## Examples

- The workers are asking for better pay and shorter hours.
- After the promotion, her monthly pay increased enough to cover the cost of a new car.
- Discrepancies in pay between entry-level staff and senior management often become a focal point during annual union negotiations regarding the cost of living.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.