What does “pay” mean?
- 1
verbto give money for something you buy or for work done
I paid twenty dollars for this shirt.
- 2
nounmoney you get for doing your job
The pay is good, but the hours are long.
- 3
verbto give attention, respect or a visit
Please pay attention to the instructions.
Pay at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb & noun
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /peɪ/ · PAY
- Forms
- paid
How to use “pay” correctly
The past is “paid,” not “payed.” You “pay for” something you buy: “I paid for the tickets,” not “I paid the tickets” (unless you mean the bill).
Common phrases with “pay”
- pay for sth
- pay attention
- pay sb back
- pay by card
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Word family
- payment
- payable
“pay” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- buy verbA1to get something by paying money for it
- cost verbA1to have a particular price
- run verbA1to move fast on your feet
- sell verbA1to give something to someone in exchange for money
- spend verbA1to use money to pay for things
- work verbA1to do a job, usually for money
- bank nounA1a business that keeps and lends money
- business nounA1the activity of buying, selling or making things for money