Definition of "pay" in English

verb

1. (ambitransitive) To give money or other compensation to in exchange for goods or services.

   • How much will the job pay?
   • he paid him to clean the place up
   • he paid her off the books and in kind where possible

2. (ambitransitive) To discharge, as a debt or other obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required.

   • she offered to pay the bill
   • he has paid his debt to society

3. (transitive) To be profitable for.

   • It didn't pay him to keep the store open any more.

4. (transitive) To give (something else than money).

   • to pay attention

5. (intransitive) To be profitable or worth the effort.

   • crime doesn’t pay
   • it will pay to wait

6. (intransitive) To discharge an obligation or debt.

   • He was allowed to go as soon as he paid.

7. (intransitive) To suffer consequences.

   • He paid for his fun in the sun with a terrible sunburn.

8. (transitive) To admit that a joke, punchline, etc., was funny.

noun

1. Money given in return for work; salary or wages.

   • Many employers have rules designed to keep employees from comparing their pays.

2. (countable, rare) A paying job; a paying concern.

adjective

1. Operable or accessible on deposit of coins.

   • pay toilet

2. Pertaining to or requiring payment.

   • pay television

verb

1. (nautical, transitive) To cover (the bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc.) with tar or pitch, or a waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.