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to pay

∞ 2.6

To give attention or respect to someone

verb
/peɪ/

: prestar atención

It is important to pay attention to the instructions before starting the test.
pay attention
pay close attention
pay tribute

And so we, we, we do have to pay close attention to that.

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Examples

I really wish I had paid more attention in chemistry.
I think so much of it is paying attention to those moments.
And so we, we, we do have to pay close attention to that.

The Rich Dad Channel
That being said, until you pay, most people will not pay attention.
One volunteer said that he "paid special attention to kids I knew were having trouble."

Academic text (2011)
We cannot reform the state without also paying attention to civil society, and vice versa.

Academic text (1999)
And if you pay close enough attention you're gonna hear it.

Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
Why don't you pay attention to me when I speak to you?

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
When working with older refugees, mental health clinicians should pay special attention to grief and identity issues.

Academic text (2011)
Hence, parents are encouraged to pay attention and be sensitive to changes in their children's behavior.

Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to give

vsto pay

∞ 1.0

To hand something to someone, for example a present

is used specifically for showing nonmaterial things like respect or compliments

to devote

vsto pay

465 3.7

Give time, effort and money to a person, project or cause

is about general attention or short acts rather than sustained commitment

Antonyms

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to disrespect

115 3.5

To show a lack of respect for someone

Idioms

hell to pay

Informal

19 8.6

Serious trouble or punishment someone gets for something they did

to pay the piper

Informal

9 7.7

Accept the bad result of something you did

to hit pay dirt

Informal

8 7.5

To find big success or money after trying hard

to pay one's debt to society

5 7.1

To serve the punishment for a crime, often by going to prison

to pay through the nose

Informal

4 8.0

Give much more money than normal for something

beyond my pay grade

Informal

1 8.2

Something I do not have the responsibility or power to decide at work

to pay the fiddler

Archaic

1 8.9

Face the bad results of your actions after enjoying something

to pay the freight

Informal

1 8.1

To accept the cost or bad result of something

in the pay of

Literature

8.8

Getting secret money from someone to do what they want

to pay off old scores

Informal

8.2

To get revenge or settle a past wrong

to pay one's own freight

8.5

Cover your own costs without help

to pay one's pound of flesh

Literature

9.9

Suffer a heavy cost to meet an unfair demand

to pay (someone) back in (their) own coin

Informal

8.3

Treat someone in the same bad way they treated you

Phrasal Verbs

to pay attention

∞ 1.6

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

to pay back

298 1.6

Give back money you borrowed from someone

to pay off

229 3.4

Bring a reward after hard work

to pay off

153 2.7

Repay all the money you owe on a loan

to pay the bills

Informal

74 2.3

Provide enough money to cover regular living costs like rent and food

to pay a visit

50 2.3

To go to someone's home or another place for a short time

to pay the rent

44 1.1

To give money regularly to your landlord for your home

to pay out

42 3.8

To give money from a fund or account

to pay cash

38 1.7

Use paper money and coins to buy something

to pay up

Informal

35 3.6

Give someone the money you owe them, often after they ask you

to pay off

28 3.6

Give money to someone for work or help

to pay off

24 5.0

Give someone money to influence them in a dishonest way

to pay homage

Formal

22 5.8

Show deep respect to someone or something, often in public

to pay homage to

Formal

19 5.5

To show great respect to someone in public for their work

to pay dearly

Informal

12 5.8

To suffer serious harm or loss because of an action

to pay back

Informal

9 3.2

Do something to someone to hurt them for what they did

to pay dividends

7 3.9

To produce good results later

to pay lip service

Informal

7 7.2

Say they support something but do not act on it

to pay alimony

Specialized

3 6.3

To give regular money to an ex-wife or ex-husband to support them after a divorce

to pay heed

Formal

2 4.5

To listen carefully to advice or warnings

to pay dues

Informal

1 6.0

Do hard work and make sacrifices before you succeed

to pay off

Informal

1 5.1

Take revenge on someone for a wrong

to pay off in the short run

3.5

To give good results quickly

to pay one's dues

7.1

To work hard for a long time to earn respect or success

to pay overs

7.8

Spend extra money to buy something because it costs more or is hard to find

Compounds

pay-phone

Archaic

75 2.0

A public phone you use by putting coins or a card in it

pay cut

31 2.8

A reduction in the money a worker receives from their job

pay grade

15 3.7

A job level that sets how much pay an employee gets

pay dirt

8 7.5

A discovery or idea that makes a lot of money after hard work

take-home pay

8 3.1

The money you keep after taxes and other payments are taken out

merit pay

5 4.5

Extra money given to a worker for good job performance

combat pay

Formal

4 5.0

Extra money paid to soldiers who serve in war zones

pay rate

3 3.0

The amount of money a worker gets for each hour or week of work

rate of pay

1 2.4

The amount of money given for work, usually per hour or week

half-pay

Archaic

1 7.0

A smaller amount of money given to a worker who is not working full time but is still employed

pay envelope

Archaic

1 3.2

An envelope that holds the money a worker gets, often given on pay day

pay packet

1 3.5

The money a worker gets for work, often in an envelope

pay dirt

Specialized

1 7.2

Earth or rock that has valuable minerals worth mining

sick pay

1 2.3

Money a worker receives while they are off work because they are sick

strike pay

Jargon

1 6.7

Money a union gives members during a strike to help with living costs

pay as you earn

4.3

A system that takes income tax from workers' pay before they receive it

pay as you earn

Formal

4.1

A student loan plan that limits monthly payments to part of your income and may forgive the rest after years

pay claim

Jargon

4.4

A formal request by workers, usually through their union, for higher pay

pay-station

Archaic

5.2

A public telephone you use by putting coins in it

pay-station

3.9

A machine you use to pay for parking or tickets

How Respectful

to revere

21 6.7

to honor

796 2.3

to pay

∞ 2.6

notice

217 1.2

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

pay infinitive

paying present participle

pays third person singular

paid past

paid past participle

Etymology

Pay kept the simple idea of 'giving', so to pay attention or to pay someone respect is like 'giving' them your focus or honour, and you can see the same root in payment.