(~s, ~ing, paid)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~ an amount of money to someone, you give it to them because you are buying something from them or because you owe it to them. When you ~ something such as a bill or a debt, you ~ the amount that you owe.
Accommodation is free–all you ~ for is breakfast and dinner...
We paid ?35 for each ticket...
The wealthier may have to ~ a little more in taxes...
He proposes that businesses should ~ taxes to the federal government...
You can ~ by credit card.
VERB: V for n, V n for n, V n, V n to n, V adv/prep, also V to-inf, V n to-inf, V
2.
When you are paid, you get your wages or salary from your employer.
The lawyer was paid a huge salary...
I get paid monthly...
They could wander where they wished and take jobs from who paid best.
VERB: be/get V-ed n, get/be V-ed adv, V adv
3.
Your ~ is the money that you get from your employer as wages or salary.
...their complaints about their ~ and conditions.
...the workers’ demand for a twenty per cent ~ rise.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
If you are paid to do something, someone gives you some money so that you will help them or perform some service for them.
Students were paid substantial sums of money to do nothing all day but lie in bed...
If you help me, I’ll ~ you anything.
VERB: be V-ed to-inf, V n n
5.
If a government or organization makes someone ~ for something, it makes them responsible for providing the money for it, for example by increasing prices or taxes.
...a legally binding international treaty that establishes who must ~ for environmental damage...
If you don’t subsidize ballet and opera, seat prices will have to go up to ~ for it.
VERB: V for n, V for n, also V
6.
If a job, deal, or investment ~s a particular amount, it brings you that amount of money.
We’re stuck in jobs that don’t ~ very well...
The account does not ~ interest on a credit balance.
VERB: V adv, V n
7.
If a job, deal, or investment ~s, it brings you a profit or earns you some money.
They owned land; they made it ~.
VERB: V
8.
When you ~ money into a bank account, you put the money in the account.
He paid ?20 into his savings account...
There is nothing more annoying than queueing when you only want to ~ in a few cheques.
VERB: V n into n, V n with adv
9.
If a course of action ~s, it results in some advantage or benefit for you.
It ~s to invest in protective clothing...
He talked of defending small nations, of ensuring that aggression does not ~.
VERB: it V to-inf, V
10.
If you ~ for something that you do or have, you suffer as a result of it.
Britain was to ~ dearly for its lack of resolve...
Why should I ~ the penalty for somebody else’s mistake?...
She feels it’s a small price to ~ for the pleasure of living in this delightful house.
VERB: V for n, V n for n, V n for n, also V
11.
You use ~ with some nouns, for example in the expressions ~ a visit and ~ attention, to indicate that something is given or done.
Do ~ us a visit next time you’re in Birmingham...
He felt a heavy bump, but paid no attention to it...
He had nothing to do with arranging the funeral, but came along to ~ his last respects.
VERB: V n n, V n to n, V n
12.
Pay television consists of programmes and channels which are not part of a public broadcasting system, and for which people have to ~.
The company has set up joint-venture ~-TV channels in Belgium, Spain, and Germany.
ADJ: ADJ n
13.
see also paid , sick ~
14.
If something that you buy or invest in ~s for itself after a period of time, the money you gain from it, or save because you have it, is greater than the amount you originally spent or invested.
...investments in energy efficiency that would ~ for themselves within five years.
PHRASE: V inflects
15.
If you ~ your way, you have or earn enough money to ~ for what you need, without needing other people to give or lend you money.
I went to college anyway, as a part-time student, ~ing my own way...
The British film industry could not ~ its way without a substantial export market.
PHRASE: V inflects
16.
to ~ dividends: see dividend
to ~ through the nose: see nose
he who ~s the piper calls the tune: see piper