Collocations for "paying"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "paying" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
pay
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- pay for your [purchase, order]
- pay by [credit, check, phone]
- pay [at the register, up front]
- pay [in advance, up front, later]
- pay on [time, delivery]
- pay per [visit, minute]
- pay up (or else)
- paid [$50, a fortune]
- paid [$50] [to, for]
- pay to [have, get, see, use]
- pay the [bills, price, fee]
- pay the [gas, electricity, water] bill
- paid a premium for
- [will, would, could] pay anything (for)
- pay [tax on, your taxes]
- (has) paid her dues
- the [stocks, shares, dividends] paid [5%]
- pay off the [bills, interest, remainder]
- pay off the [judge, governor]
- pay back [your debts, what I owe]
- pay back your [friend, parents]
- (will) pay you back
- paid her for the [service, repair, work, cleaning]
- pay someone to [write, babysit, do it for you]
- pay [them, your employees]
- pay them [the minimum, a weekly] wage
- pay her a visit
- pay attention!
- (not) paying attention (to)
- pay for your [actions, words, behavior]
- (you'll) pay for this!
- paid dearly for [it, what, having]
- [insurance, company, policy] pays out
- [the amount, how much, what] it pays out
- it pays to [be, know]
- [maternity, sick, vacation] pay
- [workers, employees] are [entitled to, eligible for] [maternity] pay
- [worker's, management, executive] pay
- [low, high, fair, reasonable, great] pay
- the job offers [low] rates of pay
- owes (a lot of) back pay (for)
- pay was [an issue, a sticking point]
- [negotiate, discuss] higher pay
- the strike was over workers' pay
- [mercenaries, hitmen] in the pay of (gangs)
- a [higher, lower] pay rate
- a pay [slip, packet, package]
- on pay day
'paying' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):