Top 30 Collocations with Pay: To Boost Your Vocabulary

Collocations are combinations of words that frequently occur together. Mastering collocations can significantly improve your English fluency and comprehension. In this blog post, we will explore 30 common collocations with the verb “pay.” Understanding these collocations will not only enhance your vocabulary but also make your language more natural and idiomatic.

Whether you’re preparing for an English exam, improving your business English, or just aiming to sound more like a native speaker, these collocations are invaluable.

Top 30 Collocations with Pay 🫰 To Boost Your Vocabulary

Paying attention to how words naturally pair together helps in understanding and producing more accurate and fluent English. This knowledge is crucial in both written and spoken communication, where precise and conventional language use is expected. The verb “pay” can be combined with various nouns to convey different meanings. For instance, you might “pay attention” to a lecture, “pay a visit” to a friend, or “pay the price” for a mistake. Each collocation provides a specific context that enhances the meaning of the verb.

Let’s dive into the fascinating world of collocations with “pay” and see how these combinations can enrich your language skills.

#1. Pay Attention 🧠

Definition: To concentrate on something or someone.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ əˈtɛnʃən/

Examples:

1. Please pay attention to the instructions before starting the test.
2. He paid no attention to the warning signs and proceeded anyway.

#2. Pay a Visit 🚶

Definition: To go to see someone or a place, usually for a short time.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈvɪzɪt/

Examples:

1. I plan to pay a visit to my grandmother this weekend.
2. We paid a visit to the new art museum downtown.

#3. Pay the Price 💸

Definition: To suffer the consequences of one’s actions.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ðə praɪs/

Examples:

1. If you break the rules, you’ll have to pay the price.
2. She paid the price for her lack of preparation.

#4. Pay Respects 🙏

Definition: To show respect or express condolences.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ rɪˈspɛkts/

Examples:

1. Many people attended the funeral to pay their respects.
2. He visited the memorial to pay his respects to the fallen soldiers.

#5. Pay Taxes 💰

Definition: To fulfill the obligation of giving money to the government based on income and other financial activities.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ˈtæksɪz/

Examples:

1. Everyone is required to pay taxes annually.
2. They were fined for failing to pay their taxes on time.

#6. Pay a Compliment 😊

Definition: To give someone a compliment.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

Examples:

1. He paid her a compliment on her new haircut.
2. It’s always nice to pay a compliment when someone looks good.

#7. Pay a Fine 💵

Definition: To give money as a penalty for breaking a law or rule.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə faɪn/

Examples:

1. He had to pay a fine for parking illegally.
2. The company paid a hefty fine for violating environmental regulations.

#8. Pay a Bill 🧾

Definition: To settle an amount of money owed for services or goods.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə bɪl/

Examples:

1. She paid the electricity bill online.
2. Make sure to pay the bill before the due date to avoid late fees.

#9. Pay Off Debt 🏦

Definition: To completely repay borrowed money.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ɒf dɛt/

Examples:

1. They managed to pay off their debt in five years.
2. It’s a relief to finally pay off student loans.

#10. Pay Tribute 🏅

Definition: To honor or show respect publicly.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ˈtrɪbjuːt/

Examples:

1. The event was held to pay tribute to the retiring CEO.
2. Fans gathered to pay tribute to the legendary musician.

#11. Pay in Cash 💵

Definition: To use physical money rather than credit or checks.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ɪn kæʃ/

Examples:

1. He prefers to pay in cash for small purchases.
2. You can pay in cash or by card at the store.

#12. Pay Rent 🏠

Definition: To give money regularly for the use of a property.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ rɛnt/

Examples:

1. They need to pay rent by the first of every month.
2. If you don’t pay rent on time, you might face eviction.

#13. Pay Interest 📈

Definition: To give money as a charge for borrowing money, calculated as a percentage of the amount borrowed.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ˈɪntrəst/

Examples:

1. Borrowers have to pay interest on their loans.
2. The bank offers a savings account that pays interest.

#14. Pay the Bills 🧾

Definition: To settle expenses for services and goods on a regular basis.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ðə bɪlz/

Examples:

1. She works two jobs to pay the bills.
2. He managed to pay the bills despite the financial challenges.

#15. Pay a Visit 🚶

Definition: To go to see someone or a place, usually for a short time.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈvɪzɪt/

Examples:

1. I plan to pay a visit to my grandmother this weekend.
2. We paid a visit to the new art museum downtown.

#16. Pay a Deposit 💸

Definition: To give a sum of money as a part payment for something.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə dɪˈpɒzɪt/

Examples:

1. They asked to pay a deposit to reserve the apartment.
2. You need to pay a deposit before we can confirm your booking.

#17. Pay a Fee 🏷️

Definition: To give money for a particular service.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə fiː/

Examples:

1. You must pay a fee to enter the museum.
2. There’s an annual fee that members have to pay.

#18. Pay the Penalty 🏅

Definition: To suffer the consequences of an action or decision, often in a sporting or legal context.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ðə ˈpɛnəlti/

Examples:

1. The team had to pay the penalty for their foul play.
2. He paid the penalty for his reckless behavior.

#19. Pay Back 🏦

Definition: To return money that one has borrowed.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ bæk/

Examples:

1. She promised to pay back the money she borrowed.
2. It’s important to pay back loans to maintain good credit.

#20. Pay Forward 🌟

Definition: To respond to a person’s kindness by being kind to someone else.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ˈfɔrwərd/

Examples:

1. She decided to pay forward the good deed done to her.
2. He paid forward the favor by helping another stranger.

#21. Pay for It 💸

Definition: To bear the consequences of an action.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ fɔr ɪt/

Examples:

1. You’ll pay for it if you don’t follow the rules.
2. She knew she’d pay for it if she broke the promise.

#22. Pay in Advance 🏷️

Definition: To give money for something before receiving it.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ɪn ədˈvæns/

Examples:

1. They had to pay in advance for the concert tickets.
2. He prefers to pay in advance for his services.

#23. Pay a Visit to 🏠

Definition: To go to see someone or a place, usually for a short time.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈvɪzɪt tuː/

Examples:

1. We paid a visit to the historic town during our vacation.
2. She paid a visit to her old school to meet her teachers.

#24. Pay a Compliment to 🌸

Definition: To give someone a compliment.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈkɒmplɪmənt tuː/

Examples:

1. He paid a compliment to her for her excellent presentation.
2. She always pays compliments to her colleagues to boost their morale.

#25. Pay the Costs 💰

Definition: To bear the financial expenses.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ðə kɔsts/

Examples:

1. The company paid the costs for the damages.
2. He had to pay the costs of the legal proceedings.

#26. Pay Attention to 🧠

Definition: To concentrate on something or someone.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ əˈtɛnʃən tuː/

Examples:

1. She needs to pay attention to the details in her work.
2. He was asked to pay attention to the changes in the schedule.

#27. Pay a Penalty for 🏅

Definition: To suffer the consequences of an action, often financially.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈpɛnəlti fɔr/

Examples:

1. They had to pay a penalty for the late submission of documents.
2. The company paid a penalty for not complying with regulations.

#28. Pay Off Loans 🏦

Definition: To completely repay borrowed money.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ɒf loʊnz/

Examples:

1. She finally managed to pay off her student loans.
2. They are working hard to pay off their home loans.

#29. Pay the Balance 💵

Definition: To settle the remaining amount of money owed.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ðə ˈbæləns/

Examples:

1. He paid the balance on his credit card bill.
2. You need to pay the balance before the due date.

#30. Pay a Visit to Friends 👫

Definition: To go to see friends, usually for a short time.

Phonetic Transcription: /peɪ ə ˈvɪzɪt tuː frɛndz/

Examples:

1. She paid a visit to friends during the holidays.
2. He often pays a visit to friends on weekends.

Conclusion

Understanding and using collocations correctly can greatly enhance your English fluency and comprehension. Collocations with “pay” are especially versatile and commonly used in various contexts, from everyday conversations to formal writing. By incorporating these collocations into your vocabulary, you’ll be able to express yourself more naturally and accurately.

Remember that language learning is a gradual process, and mastering collocations is a significant step towards achieving fluency. Practice using these collocations in your daily conversations and writing to reinforce your understanding and retention. As you become more familiar with these phrases, you’ll notice an improvement in your ability to communicate effectively and confidently.

Keep exploring the world of collocations and continue to expand your vocabulary. The more collocations you know, the more nuanced and sophisticated your language use will become. Happy learning!

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