pay
- Top 1000
Sense 1
- verb
- A1
To give money to someone because you are buying something from them or because they did work for you.
We paid for the tickets online a week before the concert.
She pays the rent on the first day of every month.
Children under six do not pay on this bus.
Common collocations: pay for something · pay the bill · pay in cash · pay by card · pay a fine
Part of: Bank and money, Shops and shopping, Restaurants
Sense 2 · less common
- noun
- A1
The money your job pays you, usually every week or month.
Nurses at the hospital are asking for better pay this year.
The job offers low pay but very flexible working hours.
His pay goes straight into a savings account each month.
Common collocations: low pay · good pay · a pay rise · equal pay · take-home pay
Part of: Bank and money, Jobs, The office
Sense 3 · less common
- verb
- B2
To bring you a real gain, so the effort or the money spent is worth it.
It pays to book train seats several weeks in advance.
Being patient with customers really pays in the long run.
Cheating in an exam never pays, as he found out.
Common collocations: it pays to do something · crime doesn't pay · honesty pays
Part of: Bank and money, Attitudes and opinions
Forms
- past
- paid
- third_person
- pays
- past_participle
- paid