# payable

/ˈpeɪəbəɫ/ (US) · /pˈeɪəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/payable
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. due to be paid

adjective · CEFR B2

describes money that you must pay now or by a certain date.

For teachers: required to be paid; due. Often used in commercial contexts to specify the deadline for a debt.

- The electricity bill is payable by the end of the month.
- The full balance of the invoice becomes payable within thirty days of the delivery date, after which interest will begin to accrue.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'by' for a date or 'to' for a person.

### 2. made out to

adjective · CEFR B2

used to say who should receive a payment, especially on a cheque.

For teachers: specifying the person or entity to whom a payment must be made.

- Please make the cheque payable to the local library.
- All membership fees should be made payable to the treasurer rather than the club's general account.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'make [something] payable to'.

### 3. business debts

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the money that a company owes to its suppliers or for its bills.

For teachers: the debts or liabilities of a business, specifically those owed to creditors for goods or services.

- The accountant spent the afternoon checking the company's payables.
- The firm struggled with its cash flow because its payables were due much sooner than its incoming revenue.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'payables'.

### 4. profitable mine

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describes a mine or area of land that has enough gold or minerals to make a profit.

For teachers: capable of yielding a profit when worked; used specifically in mining and extraction industries.

- The company finally found a payable vein of silver deep in the mountain.
- Geological surveys indicated that the site contained payable quantities of copper, justifying the high cost of the initial excavation.

## Examples

- The total amount is payable by the end of the month.
- Please make all checks payable to the local library rather than to an individual staff member.
- The contract stipulates that the remaining balance becomes immediately payable if the client fails to meet the agreed-upon milestones within the first quarter of the fiscal year.

---

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.