1. Yielding a fair profit
   "This country has been recently concerned with the increase in paying employment among women";
   - gainful, paid
    
2. For which money is paid
   "a paying job";
   - compensable, remunerative, salaried, stipendiary

1. Give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
   "I paid four dollars for this sandwich"; "Pay the waitress, please"
    
2. Pay what is due or required
   "pay up, please!";
   - pay up, ante up
    
3. Give something in return to make up for loss, effort, or inconvenience
   "Does she pay you for the work you are doing?"; "He paid off his debts";
   - pay off, make up, compensate
    
4. (investment) bring in
   "How much does this savings certificate pay annually?";
   - yield, bear
    
5. Convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow
   "Don't pay him any mind"; "pay attention";
   - give
    
6. Make a compensation for
   "a favour that cannot be paid back"
    
7. Discharge or settle
   "pay a debt"; "pay an obligation"
    
8. Bear (a cost or penalty), in recompense for some action
   "You'll pay for this opinion later"; "You'll pay for this!"; "She had to pay the penalty for speaking out rashly"
    
9. Be worth it
   "It pays to go through the trouble"
    
10. Render
    "pay a visit"; "pay a call"
     
11. Dedicate
    "pay attention to";
    - give, devote

See also: fund, paid, pay off, pay out, profitable, redeem

Type of: abide, be, bear, bring in, brook, cerebrate, clear, cogitate, communicate, digest, earn, endure, exist, gain, give, intercommunicate, make, pull in [informal], put up, realise [Brit], realize, repay, requite, settle, stand, stick out, stomach, suffer, support, take in, think, tolerate

Antonym: default

Encyclopedia: Paying