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pay · verb /peɪ/Full view
Nouns: pay, payee, payer, payment, repayment
Adjectives: unpaid, payable, underpaid
Verbs: pay, repay
pay (GIVE MONEY)
A1 I or T to give money to someone for something you are buying or using, or because you owe them money
Dictionary examples:

Helena paid for the meal.

He paid $200 for the tickets.

Do you want to pay by cash or card?

Did you pay the telephone bill?

Learner example:

I [don't] have to pay. It's free. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Urdu)

pay (WORK)
B1 I or T to give someone money for the work that they do
Dictionary examples:

She gets paid twice a month.

Accounting may be boring but at least it pays well.

Most of these women are very poorly paid and work in terrible conditions.

Learner example:

Those are the first thing[s] I am going to buy when I get paid. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

pay attention (to sth)
B1 to watch, listen to, or think about something carefully
Dictionary example:

You weren't paying attention, were you?

Learner example:

Larry is a very distracted boy. Everybody says that he should pay attention to what he is doing. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

pay sb/sth a visit or pay a visit to sb/sth
B2 to visit a person or place, usually for a short time
Dictionary example:

We thought we'd pay Sam a visit while we're in Atlanta.

Learner example:

P.S: Wherever you decide to go, do not fail to pay me a visit! (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

pay sb a compliment
C2 to tell someone that you admire something about them
Dictionary example:

He paid her several compliments about her painting.

Learner example:

His companions always pay him compliments on his [piano] playing. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

pay (SUFFER)
C2 I to suffer because of something bad you have done
Dictionary example:

He's certainly paying for his mistakes.

Learner example:

He hurried back to the castle and was so disgusted with her that he had her locked forever in a cell, to pay for what she had done. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Italian)

pay the price
C2 to accept the unpleasant results of what you have done
Dictionary example:

If you abuse your body now, you'll pay the price when you're older.

Learner example:

When all is said and done, do contemporary sports events pose an advantage to athletes pursuing their physical excellence? I would dare to say no, unless he, or increasingly she, is prepared to pay the price in becoming a ready-made product for public consumption. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Danish)

pay tribute to sb/sth
C2 to thank someone or say that you admire someone or something, especially in public
Dictionary example:

He paid tribute to his former teacher.

Learner example:

Although it may not seem [so], this is just a way of paying tribute to Mahatma Gand[h]i, since he always encouraged people to return to their traditions and c[ustom]s. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

pay back sb/sth or pay sb/sth back
B1 to pay someone the money that you owe them
Dictionary example:

If you can buy the book for me, I'll pay you back tomorrow.

Learner example:

I put money on the table. If it is not enough, please tell me [and] I'll pay you back. (First Certificate in English; B2; Japanese)

pay off sth or pay sth off
B2 to pay all of the money that you owe
Dictionary example:

I've paid off the loan.

Learner example:

I promise you I'll pay off all my phone bills. (First Certificate in English; B2; Russian)

pay off
B2 If something that you have done to try to achieve something pays off, it is successful.
Dictionary example:

All your hard work has obviously paid off!

Learner example:

I think people shouldn't underestimate the importance of books and I am sure it will finally pay off! (First Certificate in English; B2; Czech)

pay · noun U /peɪ/
Nouns: pay, payee, payer, payment, repayment
Adjectives: unpaid, payable, underpaid
Verbs: pay, repay
pay
B1 the money you receive for doing a job
Dictionary examples:

Did you get a pay increase?

It's a nice job but the pay is terrible.

Learner example:

The pay is good, but have you [got] a car to get everywhere? (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

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