Paying

/ˈpeɪ.ɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To give money in exchange for goods or services.
She is paying for her groceries at the checkout.
To discharge a debt or obligation.
He is paying off his student loans.
To give or bestow (something) as a reward or acknowledgment.
Paying attention in class will help you understand the material better.
adjective
Yielding or producing a profit or return.
They are looking for paying jobs that offer good benefits.
Able to afford to make payments.
After the promotion, he was finally in a more paying position.

Etymology

Middle English, from the Old French 'payer' meaning to pacify or satisfy.

Common Phrases and Expressions

paying the price
to accept the consequences of an action.
paying it forward
to do something kind for someone as a way to repay kindness shown to oneself.
paying off
to complete a payment on a debt.

Related Words

payer
a person or entity that pays money.
payment
the act of paying or the amount paid.

Slang Meanings

fronting the bill
I'll cover this round; consider it fronting the bill.
coughing up
When the check came, he started coughing up.