pay

/peɪ/

verb★Beginner— give money in exchange for goods or services

general

to give money to someone in exchange for goods or services

She pays her bills online every month.

This describes a regular financial transaction.

💡

Commonly used in everyday financial contexts.

informal

to suffer or experience something unpleasant

He paid the price for his reckless behavior.

This means he suffered consequences for his actions.

💡

Used metaphorically to describe enduring negative outcomes.

Collocations

pay attentionto focus on somethingpay backto return money or repay a debtpay forto cover the cost of something

to face the consequences of one's actions

to settle a debt or achieve a goal

Remember phrases like 'pay attention', 'pay for', and 'pay back'.

Use 'pay' for money transactions or consequences, not for general giving.

From Middle English 'paien', from Old French 'paier', from Latin 'pacare' (to pacify, settle).

Can be used both literally (financial transactions) and metaphorically (suffering consequences).

pay

to give money or suffer consequences

root

English Dictionary