# paying

/ˈpeɪɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈeɪɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. giving money

verb · CEFR A2

giving money to someone for goods or services.

For teachers: the act of transferring currency or credit in exchange for a product, service, or to settle a debt.

- He is paying for the groceries at the checkout counter right now.
- By paying the full balance on her credit card every month, she managed to avoid high interest charges and improve her credit score.

### 2. giving attention

verb · CEFR B1

giving your focus or attention to something.

For teachers: directing one's focus, attention, or respect toward a specific subject or person.

- The students were paying close attention to the teacher's instructions.
- Paying careful attention to the subtle nuances of the contract saved the company from a potentially disastrous legal oversight.

### 3. the act of payment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of giving money that is owed.

For teachers: the action or process of making a payment; often used in formal or technical contexts regarding the settlement of accounts.

- The paying of the debt took several years of hard work.
- The prompt paying of all outstanding invoices is essential for maintaining a healthy relationship with our primary suppliers.

## Examples

- I am paying for the coffee with my credit card.
- The company is paying its employees a bonus this month to reward their hard work during the busy season.
- While the financial cost of the project was high, the team found that paying close attention to the initial design phase saved them from expensive errors later.

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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.