When you pay 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 pay something such as a bill or a debt, you pay the amount that you owe.

When you are paid, you get your wages or salary from your employer.

Your pay is the money that you get from your employer as wages or salary.

If you are paid to do something, someone gives you some money so that you will help them or perform some service for them.

If a government or organization makes someone pay for something, it makes them responsible for providing the money for it, for example by increasing prices or taxes.

If a job, deal, or investment pays a particular amount, it brings you that amount of money.

If a job, deal, or investment pays, it brings you a profit or earns you some money.

When you pay money into a bank account, you put the money in the account.

If a course of action pays, it results in some advantage or benefit for you.

If you pay for something that you do or have, you suffer as a result of it.

You use pay with some nouns, for example in the expressions pay a visit and pay attention, to indicate that something is given or done.

Pay television consists of programmes and channels which are not part of a public broadcasting system, and for which people have to pay.

If something that you buy or invest in pays 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.

If you say that someone is in the pay of a certain person or group, you disapprove of the fact that they are being paid by and are working for that person or group, often secretly or illegally.

If you pay your way, you have or earn enough money to pay for what you need, without needing other people to give or lend you money.