to pay
- verb
- /peɪ/
- If he wants to dance, he's gonna have to pay the band.
- pays dividends
- persistence pays
- worth paying
It's it's like it doesn't pay off to be humble.
- It's it's like it doesn't pay off to be humble.
- Practice doesn't pay well, but it always ages well.
Examples
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It would pay you to play along with us.
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We found that it pays to provide the Latin lover atmosphere.
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How much should you be willing to pay to play that game?
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You should never have to pay for living ever again.
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I cannot see paying much more than that.
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And it's, it's the idea of how quick can it pay for itself, right?
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This one will pay as well, I promise.
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That it demands households and businesses pay more to get less?
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A willingness to share sometimes pays unexpected dividends in terms of building your professional reputation as well.
Academic text (2012) -
Investing in your education will definitely pay off in the long run.
Synonyms
To produce good results later
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
Something I do not have the responsibility or power to decide at work
Treat someone in the same bad way they treated you
Phrasal Verbs
- Informal
Provide enough money to cover regular living costs like rent and food
- Specialized
To give regular money to an ex-wife or ex-husband to support them after a divorce
Compounds
- Archaic
A smaller amount of money given to a worker who is not working full time but is still employed
- Formal
A student loan plan that limits monthly payments to part of your income and may forgive the rest after years
How Worthwhile
Surface Forms
Etymology
When we say something pays, we mean it 'gives' a good result or is worth the effort; this sense grew from the idea of receiving a payment or reward.