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to pay

to pay

4.1
To suffer bad results because of your actions
  • verb
  • /peɪ/
translation icon : pagar
  • Ultimately, it's a small price to pay for the lives of others.
  • pay the price
  • pay dearly
  • pay the fine

But that's the price that we pay for progress.

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Examples

  • If they fail, future generations may well pay a high price for their passivity.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The offending party will also be required to pay for the injured party's damages.

    Academic text (1990)
  • To do any of this, I must and am willing to pay a heavy price.

    Academic text (2012)
  • I give you my word he is going to pay for what he did to you.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • But that's the price that we pay for progress.

  • There is no doubt that Charles Reece has to pay for what he has done.

  • Though he remained in office, Clinton paid a heavy price for his roguish ways.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And that's the price that they're paying for pushing back.

  • If you break the rules, you will have to pay the price for your mistakes.

  • She knew she would pay for her decision to miss the deadline.

Synonyms

203 2.7

Face blame or punishment for something you did wrong

leans more to formal penalty or retribution rather than general trouble
to get it
vsto pay
  • Informal
113 8.2

To be punished or scolded for something you did

covers suffering penalties more broadly, including formal retribution
to serve time
vsto pay
35 6.7

To spend time in prison as punishment for a crime

is the general notion of bearing a penalty beyond the specific prison sentence
13 6.7

To receive punishment or bad results for doing wrong

is similar but not limited to deserved outcomes and can be neutral
to pay dearly
vsto pay
  • Informal
12 5.8

To suffer serious harm or loss because of an action

is the general idea of penalty, not necessarily high severity of harm
to pay the piper
vsto pay
  • Informal
9 7.7

Accept the bad result of something you did

is the general idea of suffering a penalty or retribution for actions

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

is wider, applying to any penalty or retribution, not only criminal sentences
to pay the freight
vsto pay
  • Informal
1 8.1

To accept the cost or bad result of something

focuses on suffering a penalty rather than monetary or practical costs
to pay the fiddler
vsto pay
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Face the bad results of your actions after enjoying something

is broader, applying to any punishment or retribution regardless of prior pleasure
to get one's lumps
vsto pay
  • Informal
8.6

To be punished for something you did wrong

is about bearing consequences in general, not specifically physical reprimand
to pay one's pound of flesh
vsto pay
  • Literature
9.9

Suffer a heavy cost to meet an unfair demand

covers penalties broadly and is not limited to extreme or cruel demands

Antonyms

676 2.3

To help someone or be helped by something

328 1.3

To give something to someone to thank them for doing something good

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

4 8.0

Give much more money than normal for something

1 8.2

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

1 8.9

Face the bad results of your actions after enjoying something

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

8.2

To get revenge or settle a past wrong

Cover your own costs without help

Suffer a heavy cost to meet an unfair demand

Treat someone in the same bad way they treated you

Phrasal Verbs

To focus on someone or something and notice carefully

298 1.6

Give back money you borrowed from someone

229 3.4

Bring a reward after hard work

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

To give money regularly to your landlord for your home

42 3.8

To give money from a fund or account

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

28 3.6

Give money to someone for work or help

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

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 produce good results later

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 give good results quickly

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

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

31 2.8

A reduction in the money a worker receives from their job

15 3.7

A job level that sets how much pay an employee gets

8 7.5

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

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

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

3 3.0

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

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

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

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

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

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

A machine you use to pay for parking or tickets

How Severe

punished
1.4
to pay
4.1
to face the music
  • Informal
19 4.5
escape
77 1.1

Surface Forms

pay infinitive
paying present participle
pays third person singular
paid past
paid past participle

Etymology

The idea of 'giving' also became a way to talk about consequences: to pay the price means to 'give' suffering or loss for something you did.