<< Back to dictionary

The Meaning of pay

  • (v. t.) To cover, as bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc., with tar or pitch, or waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.
  • (v. t.) To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service rendered, property delivered, etc.; to discharge one's obligation to; to make due return to; to compensate; to remunerate; to recompense; to requite; as, to pay workmen or servants.
  • (v. t.) Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon.
  • (v. t.) To discharge, as a debt, demand, or obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required; to deliver the amount or value of to the person to whom it is owing; to discharge a debt by delivering (money owed).
  • (v. t.) To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised.
  • (v. t.) To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit.
  • (v. i.) To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt.
  • (v. i.) Hence, to make or secure suitable return for expense or trouble; to be remunerative or profitable; to be worth the effort or pains required; as, it will pay to ride; it will pay to wait; politeness always pays.
  • (n.) Satisfaction; content.
  • (n.) An equivalent or return for money due, goods purchased, or services performed; salary or wages for work or service; compensation; recompense; payment; hire; as, the pay of a clerk; the pay of a soldier.

Synonyms

profit , salary , lucre , wage , net income , earnings , profits , net , net profit , remuneration , ante up , pay up , give , devote , yield , make up , compensate , pay off , bear , commit , chip in , dedicate , cave in , collapse , impart , pass on , move over , return , establish , reach , present , have , fall in , make , throw , gift , kick in , feed , break , ease up , apply , grant , open , founder , hold , pass , render , sacrifice , turn over , leave , give way , consecrate , generate , contribute , afford , hand , digest , abide , succumb , comport , tolerate , deliver , behave , endure , put up , concede , expect , give in , deport , assume , stick out , take over , carry , cede , knuckle under , support , birth , relent , buckle under , have a bun in the oven , soften , acquit , brook , turn out , conduct , suffer , contain , stand , gestate , stomach , accept , give birth , wear , even off , right , get , liquidate , patch up , recompense , cover , fix , remunerate , even out , fabricate , pay back , be , redeem , reconcile , correct , invent , counterbalance , overcompensate , catch up with , manufacture , represent , conciliate , comprise , even up , repair , cook up , buy off , indemnify , redress , constitute , settle , allowance , hire , compensation , honorarium , stipend , payment , requital , wages , fee

Homophones

paye , pei

Rhymes

aaa , abbe , aday , ae , afsane , aggrey , aigner , airway , allais , allay , alleyway , alloway , andre , andrei , antigay , anway , anyway , archway , array , asay , asea , ashtray , astray , attache , away , ay , b-j , ballet , banpais , barclay , bay , baye , bayh , beaujolais , beaupre , beauvais , beltway , benet , beret , bernay , betray , bey , birthday , blay , bley , bombay , boulais , boulay , bouquet , bouvier , brae , bray , breakaway , breezeway , broadway , brockway , bta , buffet , buga , byway , cabaret , cabernet , cabriolet , cache , cafe , calais , calvey , caraway , carraway , carre , castaway , cathay , causeway , cay , cea , ceta , chalet , che , chez , cia , ciskei , clay , cliche , cluj , coday , communique , companionway , convey , conway , corday , cray , crochet , croquet , curare , dae , dalai , day , daye , decay , defray , dekay , delay , delray , deseret , dey , disarray , dismay , disobey , display , divorcee , dk , dolce , dominee , donais , doomsday , doorway , dorais , dossier , doubleday , dovey , downplay , dray , drey , driveway , duarte , dumais , dunaway , dunlavey , dupay , ekk , enrile , entree , essay , everyday , expressway , fairway , faraday , faraway , fay , fe , fey , fiance , filet , fillet , flay , flyway , foia , foreplay , francais , fray , freeway , freightway , frey , friday , fuente , gainsay , galle , galloway , gallway , gateway , gay , gaye , gerais , gervais , getaway , giveaway , golladay , gourmet , gray , graye , greenaway , grey , guay , halfway , hallway , hathaway , hay , haye , headway , hearsay , hefei , heigh , hemingway , hervey , hevey , hey , heyday , hiaa , hideaway , highway , hiway , holiday , holladay , holliday , hongwei , hooray , horseplay , hurray , hwe , hyundai , ilhae , imlay , infante , inlay , interplay , intraday , j , jacquet , jae , jay , jaye , jna , jonbenet , jose , jouret , k , kahane , kamei , kawate , kay , kaye , kkk , kley , kokate , kootenay , kouyate , kray , krey , la-carre , laigh , laissez , lait , langlais , laraway , latte , lay , laye , leeway , lei , levey , ley , leyh , lihue , lingerie , lunday , lurvey , lyday , lyonnais , mackay , macknay , maclay , macrame , madre , mae , mainstay , mandalay , manet , marais , marquai , matinee , may , mcbay , mccay , mcclay , mccrae , mccray , mckay , mclay , mcnay , mcquay , mcrae , mcray , mcshea , mcstay , mcvey , melee , meservey , mey , midday , midway , millay , mobay , monday , monet , monterey , monterrey , morais , moray , moutray , mulvey , munday , naivete , nay , neigh , nej , newsday , ney , nicolay , niday , nisei , nissei , noaa , norway , obey , oj , ok , okay , olay , olivier , one-way , oshea , outlay , outweigh , overlay , overpay , overplay , overstay , paceway , padre , palais , palay , paraguay , parfait , parkway , parquet , passageway , passe , pathway , payday , paye , pei , per-se , pevey , pinochet , play , poitier , porcher , portray , pray , prepay , prey , protege , puree , purvey , quay , quaye , raceway , rae , railway , ramsay , ray , raye , re , rea , reay , redisplay , reggae , relay , rene , renee , repay , replay , resnais , resume , rey , ricochet , ridgeway , ridgway , risque , roadway , rockaway , runaway , runway , sachet , saturday , saute , say , saye , screenplay , seaway , seay , sergei , shay , shea , skyway , slay , sleigh , snay , sobriquet , societe , soiree , someday , sorbet , souffle , speedway , spey , spillway , splay , spray , stairway , stay , straightaway , stray , strey , subway , sunday , superhighway , survey , sway , swordplay , tae , tay , they , throughway , throwaway , thruway , thursday , today , torme , toupee , transkei , tray , treadway , tredway , trey , tuesday , turvey , underpay , underplay , uruguay , vadnais , valet , vey , waga , walkway , waterway , way , waye , waylay , wednesday , weekday , wei , weigh , wey , whey , workaday , workday , wray , wy , x-ray , yay , yea , yesterday