pay

To give someone money for something you buy or for work they do.

• I will pay for lunch.
• She paid the driver twenty dollars.
• Do you usually pay in cash?

How to use it: pay for something (We paid for the meal together.); pay someone something (They paid me fifty euros for the job.); pay by card / in cash (Can I pay by card?)

Common phrases: pay someone, pay for something, pay by card, pay in cash

To give the money you owe for a bill, debt, or punishment.

• We must pay the rent today.
• He paid the fine last week.
• Have you paid all your debts?

How to use it: pay something to someone (The company paid compensation to the injured workers.)

Similar words: settle, discharge

Common phrases: pay a bill, pay a fine, pay your debts, pay compensation

To put money into a bank account.

• I pay money into my savings account.
• She paid the cheque in this morning.
• How much do you pay into that account each month?

How to use it: pay something into an account (She pays her wages into a joint account.); pay something in (I paid the cheque in yesterday.)

Similar words: deposit

Opposites: withdraw

Common phrases: pay money in, pay into something, pay in cash

The money you receive for doing your job or other work.

• The pay is good.
• Our weekly pay increased last month.
• Does this job offer better pay?

Similar words: wages, salary, earnings

Common phrases: weekly pay, pay rise, pay day, low pay

Available only if you give money to use it.

• The match is on pay television.
• They added three new pay channels.
• Is that website a pay service?

Similar words: paid, subscription-based

Opposites: free

Common phrases: pay television, pay channel, pay service

Requiring you to put coins into a machine before you can use it.

• There is a pay toilet downstairs.
• He put two coins into the pay phone.
• The station's pay toilets only accept coins.

Similar words: coin-operated

Common phrases: pay toilet, pay phone