pay

/peɪ/

verb

  1. to give money to someone in exchange for goods or services, or to settle a debt

    A1

    transitive/intransitive; often pay for something; irregular: pay, paid, paid

    • "I paid for my coffee with cash."A1
    • "She paid the bill before we left the restaurant."B1
    • "The company pays its suppliers at the end of each month."C1

  2. to give someone money for work they have done

    A2

    transitive

    • "The company pays its staff every Friday."A2
    • "They pay her a good salary for the job."B1

  3. to give attention, respect, a visit, or a compliment to someone or something

    B1

    transitive; used in fixed phrases such as 'pay attention' and 'pay a visit'

    • "Please pay attention to the safety instructions."A2
    • "We paid a visit to the old castle while we were in town."B1
    • "The director paid her a compliment on her handling of the crisis."C1

  4. to be worthwhile or profitable; to bring a good result

    B2

    intransitive; often in 'it pays to ...'

    • "It pays to compare prices before you buy."B1
    • "Honesty usually pays in business."B2
    • "In the long run, careful research can pay."C1

noun

  1. money that someone receives for doing a job; wages or salary

    A2

    uncountable

    • "The pay is not very high, but the work is interesting."A2
    • "She asked her boss for higher pay."B1
    • "Nurses are demanding better pay and safer working conditions."C1

Common mistakes

  • pay attention on→pay attention to

    Use 'to' before the person or thing you are watching or listening to.

  • I paid the dinner→I paid for dinner

    Use 'pay for' when you mean buying something; use 'pay the bill' when settling a bill directly.

  • pay the attention→pay attention

    Do not use 'the' in the fixed phrase 'pay attention'.

Collocations

pay attentionpay a billpay in cashpay risepay backpay offpay forgood payhigher pay

Word family

paymentpayerpayeepayablepaycheckpayrollpaid