pay
A1Neutral to Formal. Verb uses are very common in all registers; noun uses are slightly more formal/common in business contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To give someone money for goods, services, or work done.
To give something beneficial, advantageous, or costly, or to suffer consequences; also used figuratively (e.g., pay attention).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is irregular (pay-paid-paid). It extends beyond financial transactions to mean 'to give what is due' (pay respect, pay a visit) and 'to result in benefit or disadvantage' (it pays to be honest, pay the price).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling in noun compounds: 'pay slip' (UK) vs. 'pay stub' (US). The verb 'pay off' (to bribe) is more common in US usage. 'Pay packet' (UK) vs. 'paycheck' (US).
Connotations
Very similar core connotations. 'Take-home pay' is slightly more formal in UK. 'Pay dirt' (valuable discovery) is originally US mining slang but understood in UK.
Frequency
The noun form 'pay' (meaning salary/wages) is slightly more frequent in US English, while UK English may use 'wages' or 'salary' more specifically in formal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[pay + OBJ] (pay the fee)[pay + PERSON + OBJ] (pay him the money)[pay + OBJ + to PERSON] (pay the money to him)[pay + for + OBJ] (pay for the meal)[pay + PERSON + for + OBJ/ACTION] (pay him for his work)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pay through the nose”
- “pay your dues”
- “pay lip service”
- “he who pays the piper calls the tune”
- “pay off old scores”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for salaries, invoices, dividends, and transactions ('net pay', 'pay date', 'pay the supplier').
Academic
Used in economics, sociology (e.g., 'pay disparity', 'pay to participate'). Figurative use in literature analysis (e.g., 'pay the ultimate price').
Everyday
Paying for shopping, bills, meals, and services. Common in phrasal verbs: pay back, pay up, pay off.
Technical
In computing: 'pay-per-click', 'payment gateway'. In law: 'pay damages', 'payable on demand'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll pay by card, please.
- The company pays its invoices promptly.
- It pays to read the small print.
American English
- Can I pay with a check?
- The job pays $20 an hour.
- He'll pay for what he did.
adjective
British English
- Is this a pay toilet?
- The pay phone is out of order.
- They offer a pay-as-you-go scheme.
American English
- There's a pay phone on the corner.
- It's a pay-per-view event.
- She uses a pay-as-you-go cell plan.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I pay for my coffee every morning.
- My father pays the bills.
- She does not pay cash.
- You must pay the rent by Friday.
- Did you pay the waiter for the meal?
- Hard work usually pays off in the end.
- Investors were paid a handsome dividend this quarter.
- The scandal cost him dearly; he is still paying the price publicly.
- The government agreed to pay compensation to the victims.
- The policy of transparency paid dividends in employee trust.
- He paid fulsome tribute to his predecessor's legacy.
- The company's failure to pay heed to market trends proved disastrous.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **PAY**ment at a cafe: You **PAY** for your **PAY**stry.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTENTION/DEBT IS MONEY ('pay attention', 'pay your respects'); CONSEQUENCES ARE PAYMENTS ('pay the price', 'pay for your mistakes').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'pay' with 'play' (/peɪ/ vs /pleɪ/) in listening.
- Overusing 'pay for' with services (e.g., *'pay for a doctor' instead of 'pay a doctor').
- Translating 'оплатить' directly always as 'pay', missing 'pay for' structure.
- Using 'salary' or 'wages' where simple 'pay' (noun) is more natural in informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
- *He paid the drink. (Correct: He paid for the drink.)
- *I will pay you back the money next week. (Correct but redundant 'back'. Often just 'pay you next week'.)
- *She pays attention on the details. (Correct: pays attention to the details.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'pay' is NOT correct?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning involves money, it's widely used figuratively (pay attention, pay respects, pay a visit) and to mean 'suffer consequences' (pay the price).
Use 'pay' + direct object when the object is the person receiving money (pay the builder) or the specific bill/debt (pay the bill). Use 'pay for' when the object is the thing being purchased (pay for the pizza, pay for the repairs).
Yes. As a noun, it means 'money received for work' (e.g., 'The job offers good pay.'). It's often used in compounds like 'payday', 'pay rise' (UK)/'pay raise' (US).
Common ones include: pay back (return money), pay off (result in success; finish paying a debt), pay out (disburse money, especially a large sum), pay up (pay money that is owed, often reluctantly).
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.