Synonyms for pay
- verb
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Yield — to yield as a benefit
yield, return, recompense, requite, satisfy, indemnify, remunerate, render dated
3. Expend
ante up, lay out, fork out informal UK, cough up informal, disburse, shell out informal, expend rare
Noun
1. Salary
salary, wage, fee, remuneration, compensation, payment, wages, earnings, hire, income, stipend, reward, honorarium, emolument
Definitions
- v. 1
To yield as a benefit.
to pay dividends; to pay interest
- v. 2
To give money or other compensation to in exchange for goods or services.
pay in dollars/euros, etc.
- v. 3
To deposit into an account.
I pay a portion of each paycheck into a savings account.
- n. 1
Money given in return for work; salary or wages.
Many employers have rules designed to keep employees from comparing their pays.
Related words
- Word family
- payable payer pay-to-play payment payola pay-per-view payload paymaster
- Phrases
- pay-off pay attention pay heed pay up severance pay pay the price separation pay pay the piper
- Is a kind of
- give compensate
Example sentences
- return I want you to return it to me as soon as possible.
- spend Some families spend their vacation near the beach.
- devote She seems to devote all her effects to her career.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| pay | falling | |
| return | steady | |
| recompense | steady | |
| requite | steady | |
| remunerate | steady | |
| spend | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- fix1, fee1
- 4 letters
- give1, bear1, quit1, wage1, hire2
- 5 letters
- spend1, yield1, wages2, repay2
- 6 letters
- return2, income2, settle2, salary3, reward2, render2, devote2, expend2, defray2
- 7 letters
- payment2, satisfy3, stipend2, requite
- 8 letters
- earnings2, disburse2
- 9 letters
- liquidate3, indemnify4, emolument
- 10 letters
- compensate3, recompense3, honorarium5, remunerate4
- 12 letters
- compensation4, remuneration5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (hire2 = 2 syllables).