pay
To give money to someone in exchange for goods, services, or to settle a debt. It can also mean to give something non-monetary, such as attention or a compliment.
Examples
3 of 5I need to pay for the groceries now.
I must give money for the food I am buying.
Please pay the full amount mentioned in the contract.
Please provide the complete sum of money stated in the legal agreement.
Don't worry, I'll pay for the coffee.
It is okay, I will give the money for our drinks.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'P' in Pay and 'P' in Paper money; you give Paper money to Pay.
Quick Quiz
I have to ______ for my bus ticket.
Correct!
The correct answer is: pay
Examples
I need to pay for the groceries now.
everydayI must give money for the food I am buying.
Please pay the full amount mentioned in the contract.
formalPlease provide the complete sum of money stated in the legal agreement.
Don't worry, I'll pay for the coffee.
informalIt is okay, I will give the money for our drinks.
Students must pay close attention to the lecture details.
academicThe learners need to give their full focus to the information in the class.
The corporation will pay all outstanding invoices by Friday.
businessThe company is going to settle all the unpaid bills by the end of the week.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
pay someone back
to return money that was borrowed from someone
pay a compliment
to say something nice to someone
pay the price
to experience the bad result of something you did
Often Confused With
'Buy' is the act of getting the item, while 'pay' is the act of giving the money.
You 'spend' money (general) or time, but you 'pay' a person or a bill (specific debt).
Usage Notes
When you mention the thing you are buying, you must use 'pay for' (e.g., pay for a car). When you mention the person or the amount, you use 'pay' directly (e.g., pay the waiter, pay ten dollars).
Common Mistakes
Many learners say 'I need to pay the taxi' when they mean 'I need to pay for the taxi' or 'I need to pay the driver'.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'P' in Pay and 'P' in Paper money; you give Paper money to Pay.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French word 'paier', which meant to appease, satisfy, or content a creditor.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking countries, it is common to 'pay a compliment' as a social lubricant to start a conversation.
Quick Quiz
I have to ______ for my bus ticket.
Correct!
The correct answer is: pay
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
A bank is a financial institution licensed to receive deposi...
purchaseThe formal act of acquiring something in exchange for paymen...
moneyMoney consists of coins and banknotes used to pay for goods,...
salaryMoney paid regularly for work done
priceThe amount of money you must pay to buy something
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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