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B1 verb (past tense/past participle), adjective #36 most common 15 min read

paid

Top 36

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips paid in 30 Seconds

Explanation paid in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'paid' is a very simple and important word. It is the past tense of 'pay'. You use it when you talk about giving money for something in the past. For example, if you go to a shop and buy a book, you can say, 'I paid five dollars for this book'. It is a word you use every day when you talk about shopping, eating at restaurants, or buying tickets. It shows that the action of giving money is finished. You don't need to worry about complex meanings yet. Just remember that 'pay' is for now, and 'paid' is for yesterday or before. It is also important to know that we usually say 'paid for' when we talk about the thing we bought. For example, 'I paid for the pizza'. If you talk about the person who got the money, you just say 'paid'. For example, 'I paid the taxi driver'. This word helps you describe basic transactions in your daily life. It is one of the first past tense verbs you will learn because money and buying things are very common topics. You might see this word on a receipt or a sign in a store that says 'Paid'. This means the transaction is complete. It is a very useful word for traveling and basic communication.

At the A2 level, you start to use 'paid' in more types of sentences. You still use it for simple buying and selling, but you also begin to use it with different subjects and in short stories. You might say, 'My father paid the bills last night' or 'We paid for the hotel online'. You are also learning the present perfect tense, so you will see 'paid' used with 'have' or 'has'. For example, 'Have you paid for the tickets yet?' or 'She has already paid the waiter'. This helps you talk about things that happened at an indefinite time in the past. You also start to see 'paid' as an adjective. A common example is 'a paid app'. This means the app is not free; you must give money to use it. You might also hear about 'paid parking', which means you have to pay to leave your car there. At this level, you should also be careful with the spelling. Even though 'played' ends in '-ed', 'paid' is irregular and ends in '-id'. This is a common mistake for A2 learners. You are also starting to learn simple phrasal verbs like 'paid back'. If you borrow money from a friend, you say, 'I paid him back'. This is a very common way to use the word in social situations.

At the B1 level, the word 'paid' becomes more versatile as you move into professional and more abstract contexts. You will encounter it frequently in the workplace. Terms like 'paid leave', 'paid vacation', and 'paid sick days' are important for understanding job benefits. You might say, 'I'm lucky because my company offers three weeks of paid holiday'. You also start to use 'paid' in more complex grammatical structures, such as the passive voice. For example, 'The invoice was paid on time' or 'The workers were paid at the end of the week'. This is very common in business English. You also begin to see the word used in figurative or idiomatic ways. A very common one is 'paid attention'. For example, 'I paid attention to the teacher's instructions'. Even though no money is involved, we use 'paid' to show that we gave our time and focus. You might also hear the phrase 'it paid off', which means a past effort resulted in a good outcome. For example, 'All my studying paid off because I passed the exam'. At B1, you are expected to understand these different uses—financial, professional, and idiomatic—and use them correctly in both speaking and writing.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with the many nuances of 'paid'. You will use it in more sophisticated discussions about the economy, society, and personal responsibility. You might discuss 'well-paid' versus 'underpaid' professions and the social implications of these differences. You will also encounter more advanced idioms and phrasal verbs. For example, 'to pay through the nose' (to pay too much) or 'to pay the price' (to suffer the consequences of an action). You might say, 'He paid the price for his arrogance when he lost the election'. At this level, you also use 'paid' in more formal writing, such as reports or essays. You might write about 'paid-for advertising' in the media or the 'paid-up capital' of a corporation. You are also more aware of the subtle differences between 'paid' and its synonyms like 'settled', 'reimbursed', or 'compensated'. You can choose the right word for the right context. For instance, you know that 'reimbursed' is specifically for being paid back for expenses. You also understand the use of 'paid' in legal or contractual language, such as 'paid in full'. Your ability to use 'paid' correctly in these varied and complex situations shows a high level of English proficiency.

At the C1 level, your use of 'paid' is precise and contextually appropriate. You understand its role in complex financial and legal terminology. You might use terms like 'paid-in surplus', 'paid-up insurance', or 'paid-for content' in a professional or academic setting. You are also sensitive to the rhetorical use of the word. For example, you might analyze how a politician uses the phrase 'paid for by the taxpayers' to evoke a specific emotional response. You are comfortable with the most advanced idiomatic uses, such as 'paid dividends' (meaning a past action brought great benefits later) or 'paid one's dues' (meaning someone has earned their position through long and hard work). You can use 'paid' in a variety of registers, from the highly formal language of a contract to the idiomatic and sometimes slang-heavy language of casual conversation. You are also aware of the historical and etymological roots of the word, which can help you understand its use in older literature. Your mastery of 'paid' at this level means you can use it not just to convey information, but to add nuance, emphasis, and professional polish to your communication. You rarely make mistakes with its irregular form or its associated prepositions, even in the most complex sentence structures.

At the C2 level, 'paid' is a tool you use with complete mastery and subtle flair. You are aware of its most obscure uses and can appreciate its role in literature and high-level discourse. You might encounter the nautical 'payed' in a historical novel and understand its specific meaning without confusion. You can use 'paid' in philosophical discussions about the nature of debt and obligation, perhaps referencing the idea of 'a debt that can never be fully paid'. In professional contexts, you can navigate the complexities of 'paid-in capital' and 'paid-up share capital' with ease. You also understand the subtle connotations of the word in different cultural contexts—how the act of being 'paid' can be a source of pride, a matter of fact, or even a point of sensitivity. You can use the word to create sophisticated irony or metaphor. For example, you might describe a character who 'paid for his crimes with a lifetime of regret', using the word to bridge the gap between the legal and the spiritual. Your use of 'paid' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can switch between its literal, figurative, and technical meanings seamlessly, always choosing the most effective structure to convey your intended meaning with precision and elegance.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

paid in 30 Seconds

Paid is the past tense of 'pay', used for completed money transactions and settling debts in various contexts.
It works as an adjective to describe things that cost money, like 'paid apps' or 'paid leave'.
Commonly used in idioms like 'paid attention' or 'paid the price', which aren't always about money.
The spelling 'paid' is for money; 'payed' is a rare nautical term for ships and ropes.

The word paid is a fundamental term in the English language, serving primarily as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'pay'. At its core, it signifies the completion of a financial transaction or the fulfillment of a debt. When you have handed over currency, transferred digital funds, or exchanged value for a product or service, the action is described as having been paid. However, its utility extends far beyond simple commerce. It functions as an adjective to describe items that have been settled, such as a 'paid invoice', or individuals who receive compensation for their labor, such as a 'paid intern'. In a broader social context, it represents the closing of a loop of obligation. When we say a debt is paid, we are acknowledging that the scales of fairness have been balanced. This word is ubiquitous in daily life, appearing on receipts, in employment contracts, and in casual conversations about weekend activities. Whether you are discussing a bill you just settled at a restaurant or the professional status of a consultant, 'paid' is the definitive marker of completed compensation. It carries a sense of finality and resolution. In the professional world, 'paid' distinguishes between volunteer work and professional services, a distinction that is crucial for legal and economic reasons. The word also appears in various technical contexts, such as 'paid-in capital' in accounting or 'paid search' in digital marketing, illustrating its versatility across different sectors of human endeavor.

Financial Status: Indicates that a transaction is complete and no further money is owed.
Employment Type: Describes a role where the person receives a salary or wage, as opposed to volunteer work.

After months of saving, Sarah finally paid off her student loans in full.

Beyond the literal exchange of money, 'paid' is used metaphorically to describe the consequences of actions. If someone makes a mistake and suffers for it, we might say they 'paid the price'. This usage links the concept of financial cost to the concept of personal or moral accountability. It suggests that every action has a corresponding cost, whether that cost is measured in dollars, time, or emotional energy. In the realm of media and advertising, 'paid' is used to differentiate organic content from sponsored content. A 'paid advertisement' is one where a brand has given money to a platform to ensure their message reaches an audience. This distinction is vital for transparency and consumer trust. Furthermore, the word is used in the context of 'paid leave', which is a significant benefit in the workplace, allowing employees to take time off while still receiving their regular income. This highlights the word's connection to security and employee rights. In summary, 'paid' is a word that anchors our understanding of value, labor, and consequence. It is a bridge between the physical act of giving money and the abstract concepts of worth and responsibility. Its frequent use in both formal documents and informal speech makes it an essential part of the English lexicon, reflecting the central role that exchange and compensation play in our global society.

The company offers three weeks of paid vacation to all its full-time employees.

Metaphorical Cost: Refers to the negative consequences or sacrifices made as a result of a decision.

He paid a heavy price for his lack of preparation during the final exam.

Using the word paid correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical roles as both a verb and an adjective. As the past tense of 'pay', it often follows a subject and precedes an object, describing an action that occurred in the past. For example, 'I paid the cashier' follows the Subject-Verb-Object pattern. It can also be used intransitively, where the object is implied, such as in 'I already paid'. In the present perfect tense, it is used with the auxiliary verb 'have' or 'has', as in 'She has paid her dues', which can mean both literally paying money and figuratively earning one's place through hard work. As an adjective, 'paid' typically precedes the noun it modifies. Phrases like 'paid advertising', 'paid leave', and 'paid internship' are standard in professional environments. In these cases, 'paid' provides essential information about the nature of the noun, specifically that money is involved. When using 'paid' in passive voice constructions, the focus shifts to the recipient or the item being settled, such as 'The invoice was paid yesterday'. This is common in business correspondence where the person who performed the action is less important than the fact that the action was completed. It is also important to note the prepositional patterns associated with 'paid'. We 'pay for' an item, but we 'pay' a person or an amount. Therefore, 'I paid for the coffee' and 'I paid the barista' are both correct, but they emphasize different aspects of the transaction.

Transitive Use: The subject gives money to a recipient or for a specific charge. Example: 'He paid the rent.'
Adjectival Use: Describes a noun as being compensated or settled. Example: 'A paid consultant.'

They paid extra for the express shipping to ensure the package arrived on time.

Furthermore, 'paid' is often combined with adverbs to provide more detail about the payment. 'Well-paid' and 'highly-paid' describe lucrative positions, while 'underpaid' or 'poorly-paid' describe the opposite. These compound adjectives are hyphenated when they appear before a noun, as in 'a well-paid professional'. In conversational English, 'paid' is frequently used in the context of social obligations. If a friend buys you lunch, you might say, 'I'll make sure you're paid back next week', using 'paid back' as a phrasal verb meaning to reimburse. The versatility of 'paid' also allows it to function in various idiomatic expressions that are essential for natural-sounding English. For instance, 'to be paid in full' means that every cent of a debt has been cleared. In legal contexts, 'paid' is a critical term in contracts to define when obligations are met. The phrase 'paid-up' is often used in insurance to describe a policy where all premiums have been settled. Understanding these different structures—from simple past tense to complex compound adjectives—allows a speaker to navigate both everyday and professional situations with confidence. The word 'paid' acts as a linguistic marker of exchange, and its correct application is key to clear communication regarding finances, work, and personal responsibilities.

Is this a paid partnership or just a personal recommendation?

Phrasal Verbs: Commonly used with 'back', 'off', or 'out'. Example: 'She paid off her mortgage.'

The insurance company paid out the claim within forty-eight hours of the accident.

The word paid is an integral part of the soundtrack of modern life. You will hear it in the bustling environment of a retail store when a clerk confirms, 'That's already been paid for'. You will hear it in the hushed tones of a corporate boardroom during discussions about 'paid-in capital' or 'paid dividends'. It is a word that spans the entire economic spectrum, from the simplest street transaction to the most complex international financial agreements. In the world of digital media, 'paid' is a constant presence. YouTubers and Instagram influencers are legally required to disclose 'paid promotions', making the word a frequent sight in captions and a frequent sound in video intros. In the news, you might hear reports about 'paid protesters' or 'paid lobbyists', where the word is used to question the authenticity of a movement or an opinion by suggesting it was bought rather than genuine. This highlights the word's power to shift the perception of an action from a personal choice to a professional obligation. In the realm of employment, 'paid' is a word of great significance. During job interviews, candidates often ask about 'paid time off' (PTO) or 'paid sick leave', as these are vital components of a compensation package. The word 'paid' here represents security and the value the employer places on the employee's well-being.

Retail & Service: Used to confirm transactions. 'Your order is paid, you can pick it up at the counter.'
Social Media: Used for transparency in advertising. 'This video includes a paid sponsorship.'

'I've paid my dues in this industry, and now it's time to lead,' the director said during the interview.

In popular culture, 'paid' often appears in song lyrics and movie dialogue, frequently in the context of success or revenge. The phrase 'get paid' is a common slang term for achieving financial success, often used in hip-hop culture to signify rising from poverty to wealth. Conversely, in a thriller movie, a character might menacingly say, 'He'll be paid back for what he did', implying a violent or calculated retaliation. This duality—representing both the reward for hard work and the retribution for wrongdoing—makes 'paid' a linguistically rich and emotionally charged word. You also encounter 'paid' in the fine print of every contract you sign and every app you download. 'Paid subscriptions' are the lifeblood of the modern service economy, from Netflix to Spotify. When you see a 'Paid' stamp on a physical invoice, it provides a sense of relief and closure. In educational settings, students learn about 'paid-up capital' in business classes or 'paid-for' political campaigns in civics. The word is so deeply embedded in our social and economic structures that we often use it without thinking, yet it carries the weight of our entire system of exchange. Whether it's a 'paid parking' sign on a city street or a 'paid internship' listing on a job board, the word 'paid' is a constant reminder of the costs and compensations that define our interactions with the world and with each other.

The sign on the dashboard clearly stated that the driver only accepted paid bookings through the official app.

Slang & Idioms: 'Getting paid' is often used to mean becoming successful or rich.

The athlete paid no attention to the critics and focused entirely on his training.

The most frequent mistake associated with the word paid is undoubtedly its spelling. Many learners, and even some native speakers, are tempted to write 'payed' because it follows the standard pattern of adding '-ed' to a verb to form the past tense (like 'play' becoming 'played'). However, 'pay' is an irregular verb in this regard. While 'payed' is a real word, its usage is extremely limited to nautical contexts, specifically referring to the act of coating a ship's seams with pitch or tar to make them waterproof, or 'paying out' a rope by letting it slacken. In 99.9% of situations involving money, debts, or attention, 'paid' is the only correct spelling. Another common error involves the misuse of prepositions. As mentioned earlier, 'paid' can be followed by 'for' or nothing at all, depending on the object. A common mistake is saying 'I paid the coffee', which implies you gave money to the coffee itself. The correct form is 'I paid for the coffee' or 'I paid the waiter for the coffee'. Conversely, you don't 'pay for' a person unless you are literally purchasing them (which is rarely the intended meaning); you 'pay' a person. So, 'I paid the mechanic' is correct, not 'I paid for the mechanic' (unless you are paying someone else for the mechanic's services).

Spelling Error: Using 'payed' instead of 'paid' for financial transactions. 'Payed' is for ships and ropes only.
Preposition Confusion: Confusing 'paid' and 'paid for'. Use 'for' with the item bought, but not with the person receiving money.

Incorrect: I payed the bill.
Correct: I paid the bill.

There is also confusion regarding the use of 'paid' in compound adjectives. Some people forget to include the hyphen in phrases like 'well-paid job' when it appears before the noun. While the hyphen is often omitted when the adjective follows the noun ('The job is well paid'), it is necessary for clarity when it precedes it. Another subtle mistake is using 'paid' when 'spent' would be more appropriate. While you 'pay' money for something, you 'spend' money on something. You can also 'spend' time, but you 'pay' attention. Using these interchangeably can lead to awkward phrasing. For example, 'I paid three hours on my homework' is incorrect; it should be 'I spent three hours on my homework'. Additionally, in the context of 'paid leave', some might mistakenly say 'paying leave' or 'payment leave'. The standard term is 'paid leave', where 'paid' acts as a past participle adjective. Finally, learners sometimes struggle with the passive voice. 'The bill paid' is incorrect if you mean the bill was settled; it must be 'The bill was paid' or 'The bill has been paid'. Without the auxiliary verb, 'the bill paid' sounds like the bill itself was the one giving money. Avoiding these common pitfalls—spelling, prepositions, compound adjective rules, and passive voice structure—will significantly improve the accuracy and professionalism of your English.

Incorrect: He paid three hours to fix the car.
Correct: He spent three hours fixing the car.

Passive Voice Error: Omitting the 'to be' verb. Incorrect: 'The debt paid.' Correct: 'The debt was paid.'

Incorrect: I paid for the waiter.
Correct: I paid the waiter.

While paid is the most common and versatile word for completing a transaction, several alternatives can provide more specific meaning or a different level of formality. 'Settled' is a strong alternative, often used in legal or official contexts to indicate that a debt or an account is no longer outstanding. For example, 'The account has been settled' sounds more formal and final than 'The bill has been paid'. 'Remitted' is another formal term, specifically referring to the act of sending money, often by mail or electronic transfer. You might see this on an invoice: 'Please remit payment to the address below'. In a more casual or business-oriented context, 'reimbursed' is used when someone is being paid back for expenses they have already covered. If you buy supplies for your office and the company gives you the money back, you have been 'reimbursed'. 'Compensated' is a broader term that can refer to money but also to other forms of balancing a loss or providing a reward for labor. It is often used in discussions about salaries or legal damages. For instance, 'The workers were compensated for their overtime' or 'He was compensated for his injuries'.

Settled vs. Paid: 'Settled' implies a final resolution of a debt or dispute, whereas 'paid' is a general term for the exchange of money.
Reimbursed vs. Paid: 'Reimbursed' specifically means paying someone back for money they have already spent.

The legal dispute was finally settled out of court with a significant payment.

In the context of rewards or benefits, 'remunerated' is a very formal synonym for 'paid'. It is typically used in academic or high-level corporate settings. 'The speakers were remunerated for their participation in the symposium' sounds much more prestigious than 'The speakers were paid'. On the other hand, 'disbursed' is a technical term used in finance and government to describe the act of paying out money from a large fund. 'The grant money was disbursed to the researchers in three installments'. For informal situations, 'forked out' or 'shelled out' are common phrasal verbs that imply a sense of reluctance or that the price was higher than expected. 'I had to shell out fifty dollars for a new battery'. These alternatives add a layer of emotion and context that 'paid' lacks. Understanding the nuances between these words—from the technical 'disbursed' to the informal 'shelled out'—allows you to choose the word that best fits the tone and specific circumstances of your communication. Whether you are writing a formal business letter, a legal document, or a casual text to a friend, having a range of synonyms for 'paid' ensures your language is precise, appropriate, and expressive.

He shelled out a fortune for those front-row tickets to the concert.

Remunerated vs. Paid: 'Remunerated' is a highly formal term used for professional services or high-level compensation.

The company reimbursed her for the travel expenses she incurred during the business trip.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The nautical term 'payed' (to cover with pitch) comes from a different root, the Latin 'picare' (to pitch), but merged in spelling with 'pay' over time.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /peɪd/

US /peɪd/

Single syllable, so the stress is on the entire word.

Rhymes With

made grade blade shade trade aid raid laid fade jade

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'pay-ed' (two syllables). It should be one syllable.
Confusing it with 'pad' (short 'a' sound).
Confusing it with 'pet' (short 'e' sound).
Failing to voice the final 'd', making it sound like 'pate'.
Over-emphasizing the 'i' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Very common word, easy to recognize in text.

Writing 4/5

Irregular spelling 'paid' vs 'payed' causes frequent errors.

Speaking 2/5

Simple one-syllable pronunciation.

Listening 2/5

Clear sound, though can be confused with 'played' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

pay money buy sell cost

Learn Next

payment salary invoice debt reimburse

Advanced

remuneration disbursement amortization solvency liquidation

Grammar to Know

Irregular Past Tense

Pay -> Paid (not payed).

Passive Voice with 'Be'

The bill was paid by my friend.

Present Perfect with 'Have'

I have already paid the electricity bill.

Compound Adjectives

A well-paid worker (use hyphen before noun).

Prepositional Use

Paid for [thing] vs Paid [person].

Examples by Level

I paid for the milk.

J'ai payé le lait.

Past tense of 'pay'. Use 'for' with the item.

She paid five dollars.

Elle a payé cinq dollars.

Direct object (amount of money).

He paid the taxi driver.

Il a payé le chauffeur de taxi.

Direct object (person receiving money).

We paid for our dinner.

Nous avons payé notre dîner.

Past tense 'paid' + 'for' + item.

They paid at the shop.

Ils ont payé au magasin.

Intransitive use (no object).

I paid with my card.

J'ai payé avec ma carte.

Prepositional phrase 'with my card'.

The bill is paid.

La facture est payée.

Passive adjective use.

Who paid for the coffee?

Qui a payé le café ?

Question form in past tense.

I have already paid the rent.

J'ai déjà payé le loyer.

Present perfect tense (have + paid).

She paid him back the ten euros.

Elle lui a rendu les dix euros.

Phrasal verb 'paid back'.

This is a paid app, not a free one.

C'est une application payante, pas gratuite.

Adjective 'paid' modifying 'app'.

He paid for the tickets online.

Il a payé les billets en ligne.

Past tense with adverbial 'online'.

We paid a lot of money for this car.

Nous avons payé beaucoup d'argent pour cette voiture.

Amount + for + item.

Has the waiter been paid yet?

Le serveur a-t-il déjà été payé ?

Present perfect passive question.

They paid for their mistakes.

Ils ont payé pour leurs erreurs.

Figurative use of 'paid for'.

I paid the bill by mistake.

J'ai payé la facture par erreur.

Adverbial phrase 'by mistake'.

The company offers twenty days of paid leave.

L'entreprise propose vingt jours de congés payés.

Compound term 'paid leave'.

She paid close attention to the presentation.

Elle a suivi la présentation avec attention.

Collocation 'paid attention'.

All his hard work finally paid off.

Tout son travail acharné a fini par payer.

Idiomatic phrasal verb 'paid off'.

The invoice must be paid within thirty days.

La facture doit être payée sous trente jours.

Passive voice 'be paid'.

He is a well-paid consultant.

C'est un consultant bien payé.

Hyphenated compound adjective 'well-paid'.

I paid through the nose for these last-minute flights.

J'ai payé une fortune pour ces vols de dernière minute.

Idiom 'paid through the nose'.

The insurance company paid out the claim.

La compagnie d'assurance a versé l'indemnité.

Phrasal verb 'paid out'.

They paid a visit to their grandparents.

Ils ont rendu visite à leurs grands-parents.

Collocation 'paid a visit'.

The criminal finally paid his debt to society.

Le criminel a enfin payé sa dette envers la société.

Metaphorical use of 'paid debt'.

This post contains paid promotional content.

Cette publication contient du contenu promotionnel payant.

Adjectival use in media context.

She paid the price for her lack of preparation.

Elle a payé le prix de son manque de préparation.

Idiom 'paid the price'.

The investment paid dividends in the long run.

L'investissement a porté ses fruits à long terme.

Idiom 'paid dividends'.

He paid no heed to the warnings.

Il n'a tenu aucun compte des avertissements.

Formal collocation 'paid no heed'.

The mortgage was finally paid off after twenty years.

L'hypothèque a enfin été remboursée après vingt ans.

Passive phrasal verb 'paid off'.

Is this a paid internship or a volunteer position?

S'agit-il d'un stage rémunéré ou d'un poste de bénévole ?

Adjective 'paid' vs 'volunteer'.

The account was settled and the balance was paid in full.

Le compte a été réglé et le solde a été payé en totalité.

Phrase 'paid in full'.

The company's paid-in capital increased significantly this quarter.

Le capital social de l'entreprise a augmenté de manière significative ce trimestre.

Technical term 'paid-in capital'.

He has certainly paid his dues to reach this executive level.

Il a certainement fait ses preuves pour atteindre ce niveau de direction.

Idiom 'paid his dues'.

The policy is now a paid-up life insurance plan.

La police est désormais un plan d'assurance-vie libéré.

Technical term 'paid-up'.

The protesters were accused of being paid agitators.

Les manifestants ont été accusés d'être des agitateurs rémunérés.

Adjective 'paid' used critically.

She paid a glowing tribute to her late mentor.

Elle a rendu un vibrant hommage à son défunt mentor.

Collocation 'paid a tribute'.

The environmental cost of the project was never fully paid.

Le coût environnemental du projet n'a jamais été pleinement payé.

Metaphorical passive use.

The debt was paid back with interest.

La dette a été remboursée avec intérêts.

Phrasal verb 'paid back' + 'with interest'.

They paid court to the visiting dignitaries.

Ils ont fait la cour aux dignitaires en visite.

Archaic/Formal idiom 'paid court to'.

The ship's seams were payed with pitch to prevent leaks.

Les coutures du navire ont été calfatées avec de la poix pour éviter les fuites.

Nautical spelling 'payed'.

He paid the ultimate price for his country.

Il a payé le prix ultime pour son pays.

Euphemism for dying in battle.

The nuances of the contract were paid scant attention.

Les nuances du contrat n'ont reçu qu'une attention dérisoire.

Formal collocation 'paid scant attention'.

The dividends paid out were a testament to the firm's resilience.

Les dividendes versés témoignaient de la résilience de l'entreprise.

Complex sentence with 'paid out' as a participle.

She felt she had finally paid her debt to her past.

Elle sentait qu'elle avait enfin réglé sa dette envers son passé.

Deeply metaphorical use.

The architect was paid in kind with a collection of rare books.

L'architecte a été payé en nature avec une collection de livres rares.

Phrase 'paid in kind' (not money).

The political campaign was heavily funded by paid lobbyists.

La campagne politique a été lourdement financée par des lobbyistes rémunérés.

Adjective 'paid' in a political context.

The account, having been paid, was subsequently closed.

Le compte, ayant été payé, a été fermé par la suite.

Participle clause 'having been paid'.

Common Collocations

paid leave

paid attention

paid in full

well-paid

paid subscription

paid advertising

paid a visit

paid off

paid a tribute

paid-up capital

Common Phrases

get paid

— To receive one's salary or to achieve financial success.

I can't wait to get paid on Friday.

paid back

— To return money that was borrowed.

He paid back the loan within a year.

paid for

— To have given money in exchange for something.

Everything in this room is already paid for.

paid out

— To distribute money from a fund or insurance.

The lottery paid out millions to the winner.

paid in advance

— To pay before receiving a service or product.

The hotel room must be paid in advance.

paid by the hour

— To receive wages based on the amount of time worked.

The construction workers are paid by the hour.

paid employment

— Work for which one receives a salary.

She is looking for full-time paid employment.

paid-for content

— Media or articles that have been sponsored.

The website clearly labels all paid-for content.

paid a compliment

— To say something nice to someone.

He paid her a lovely compliment on her dress.

paid the bill

— To settle the cost of a meal or service.

We split the food, but he paid the bill.

Often Confused With

paid vs payed

This is only for nautical contexts (pitching a ship). Never use it for money.

paid vs spent

You pay money FOR something, but you spend money ON something.

paid vs played

Sounds similar, but refers to games or music, not money.

Idioms & Expressions

"paid the price"

— To suffer the negative consequences of an action.

He paid the price for his dishonesty.

Neutral

"paid through the nose"

— To pay an excessively high price for something.

I paid through the nose for those concert tickets.

Informal

"paid dividends"

— To produce great benefits or advantages in the future.

His early investments in education paid dividends.

Neutral/Business

"paid one's dues"

— To have earned a position through hard work and experience.

She's paid her dues and deserves the promotion.

Informal/Professional

"paid a king's ransom"

— To pay a very large amount of money.

They paid a king's ransom for that antique vase.

Literary/Informal

"paid no heed"

— To ignore warnings or advice completely.

The driver paid no heed to the stop sign.

Formal

"paid the ultimate price"

— To die for a cause or in the line of duty.

Many soldiers paid the ultimate price for freedom.

Formal/Solemn

"paid court to"

— To try to please or win the favor of someone powerful.

The young nobles paid court to the queen.

Archaic/Formal

"paid back in one's own coin"

— To treat someone in the same bad way they treated you.

He was finally paid back in his own coin.

Literary

"paid the piper"

— To face the consequences of one's actions, especially financial ones.

After the party, it was time to pay the piper.

Idiomatic

Easily Confused

paid vs payed

It follows the standard -ed rule for past tense.

Paid is for money; payed is for ships and ropes. Paid is irregular.

I paid the bill (money). I payed the seams of the boat (nautical).

paid vs spent

Both involve giving away money.

Paid is the act of giving money to someone. Spent is the act of using money.

I paid the shopkeeper. I spent twenty dollars.

paid vs cost

Both relate to the price of something.

Cost is what the item requires. Paid is what the person does.

The book cost ten dollars. I paid ten dollars for the book.

paid vs settled

Both mean a debt is finished.

Settled is more formal and implies a final agreement or resolution.

I paid the bill. The lawsuit was settled.

paid vs reimbursed

Both involve receiving money.

Reimbursed specifically means being paid back for money you already spent.

The company reimbursed my travel costs.

Sentence Patterns

I paid for [noun].

I paid for the milk.

I paid [person] [amount].

I paid the man ten dollars.

The [noun] was paid [adverb].

The bill was paid yesterday.

It is a [adjective]-paid [noun].

It is a well-paid job.

[Subject] paid the price for [noun/gerund].

He paid the price for being late.

[Subject] has paid [possessive] dues.

She has paid her dues in this company.

Paid-in [noun] increased.

Paid-in capital increased this year.

Having been paid, [clause].

Having been paid, the workers left the site.

Word Family

Nouns

payment

payee

payer

payoff

paycheck

Verbs

pay

repay

overpay

underpay

prepay

Adjectives

paid

payable

paying

unpaid

prepaid

salary

wage

remuneration

compensation

transaction

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in both spoken and written English.

Common Mistakes

I payed the bill. → I paid the bill.
The past tense of 'pay' is 'paid'. 'Payed' is only used in nautical contexts.
I paid the coffee. → I paid for the coffee.
You must use 'for' when the object is the item being purchased.
I paid for the waiter. → I paid the waiter.
Do not use 'for' when the object is the person receiving the money.
The debt paid yesterday. → The debt was paid yesterday.
In the passive voice, you need the auxiliary verb 'was' or 'has been'.
I paid three hours on my work. → I spent three hours on my work.
Use 'spent' for time, and 'paid' for money or attention.

Tips

The 'I' before 'D' Rule

Always remember that for money, it's P-A-I-D. Think of the 'I' as 'Income' or 'Investment'. Avoid 'payed' unless you are on a boat!

Preposition Power

Use 'for' when talking about the object you bought. 'I paid for the shoes.' Don't use 'for' when talking about the person. 'I paid the clerk.'

Beyond Money

Remember the non-financial uses like 'paid attention' and 'paid a visit'. These are very common and make your English sound more natural.

Hyphenate Compound Adjectives

In professional writing, always use a hyphen for 'well-paid', 'low-paid', etc., when they modify a noun directly: 'a well-paid professional'.

The Price of Success

Use 'paid off' to describe when hard work leads to a good result. It's a very positive and common phrasal verb in both business and life.

Settled vs Paid

If you want to sound more formal or final in a dispute, use 'settled'. 'The matter has been settled' sounds more official than 'The bill was paid'.

Paying Back

When you return money to a friend, always use 'paid back'. 'I'll pay you back tomorrow' is the standard way to promise reimbursement.

Paid Content

Be aware of 'paid promotion' or 'paid partnership' tags on social media. This means the person was compensated to show the product.

Remuneration

In academic or high-level reports, 'remunerated' is a sophisticated synonym for 'paid' that can elevate the tone of your writing.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'ID' in 'paid' as standing for 'Invoice Done'. If the invoice is done, it is paid.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant red 'PAID' stamp slamming down onto a pile of bills, turning them from red to green.

Word Web

Money Debt Salary Bill Attention Price Dividends Leave

Challenge

Try to use 'paid' in three different ways today: as a verb for a purchase, as an adjective for a service, and in the idiom 'paid attention'.

Word Origin

The word 'paid' comes from the Middle English 'payed', which is the past tense of 'payen'. This was derived from the Old French 'paier', meaning 'to satisfy' or 'to appease'.

Original meaning: The original sense was 'to pacify' or 'to make peace with', reflecting the idea that paying a debt satisfies a creditor.

Indo-European (Latin root 'pacare' for 'peace').

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'paid protesters' as it can be a politically charged and dismissive term.

In the UK and US, it is often considered rude to ask exactly how much someone 'paid' for a personal item like a house or car.

The song 'Paid in Full' by Eric B. & Rakim. The movie 'Paid in Full' (2002). The phrase 'He who pays the piper calls the tune'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Shopping

I already paid.
Can I have a receipt showing it's paid?
I paid by credit card.
Who paid for this?

Employment

Is this a paid position?
I get paid every two weeks.
Do we get paid leave?
He is a well-paid executive.

Banking

The check has been paid.
Is the mortgage paid off?
I paid in full.
The interest was paid monthly.

Social

I'll pay you back.
He paid me a compliment.
They paid us a visit.
I paid attention to her.

Metaphorical

It paid off in the end.
He paid the price for his mistake.
She paid her dues.
The investment paid dividends.

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever paid for something and then immediately regretted it?"

"Do you think internships should always be paid positions?"

"What is the most you have ever paid for a single meal?"

"How much paid leave do people usually get in your country?"

"Has a risk you took ever really paid off in a big way?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time when you paid a lot of money for an experience. Was it worth it?

Reflect on a situation where you 'paid the price' for a mistake you made.

Describe your dream job. Is it a well-paid position, or is the work itself the reward?

Write about someone who has 'paid their dues' to get where they are today.

Do you prefer free services with ads, or paid subscriptions without them? Why?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In almost every case, it is 'paid'. 'Payed' is a very specific nautical term used for sealing the seams of a wooden ship with pitch or letting out a rope. For money, bills, and attention, always use 'paid'.

Yes, 'paid' is frequently used as an adjective. Examples include 'a paid internship', 'paid advertising', and 'paid leave'. It describes something that involves payment rather than being free or voluntary.

It means to listen or watch something carefully. Even though 'paid' usually refers to money, in this idiom, it refers to giving your time and focus to something or someone.

You use a form of the verb 'to be' followed by 'paid'. For example, 'The bill was paid' or 'The employees are being paid'. This shifts the focus to the thing being settled.

Paid leave is a benefit where an employee is allowed to take time off from work (for vacation, illness, etc.) while still receiving their normal salary or wages.

This is an idiom meaning that a past effort or investment resulted in a successful or beneficial outcome. For example, 'My hard work in school really paid off when I got a great job'.

Yes, when 'well-paid' comes before a noun (e.g., 'a well-paid job'), it should be hyphenated. If it comes after the verb (e.g., 'the job is well paid'), the hyphen is usually omitted.

You 'pay' a person or an amount ('I paid the waiter', 'I paid $10'). You 'pay for' an item or service ('I paid for the pizza'). If you mention both, use 'I paid the waiter for the pizza'.

It means that the entire amount of a debt or bill has been given, and nothing more is owed. It is a common phrase on receipts and legal documents.

This is a business term referring to the amount of money that shareholders have invested in a company in exchange for stock. It is a key part of a company's balance sheet.