FluencyCraft

paid

"Paid" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "pay." It has a few closely related but distinct uses — as a verb describing a completed action, and as an adjective describing a state or type of work. Here are the most common ways you will encounter it.

1verbgave money

This is the most common use. When you hand over money in exchange for something — a product, a service, a bill — you 'paid' for it. Think of it as the completed action of paying.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She paid twenty dollars for the book.

I already paid the electricity bill this month.

He paid the waiter and left the restaurant.

2verbgave someone their wages

When an employer gives a worker their salary or wages for the work they have done, we say the employer 'paid' them. The focus here is on the relationship between work and money received.

business, work · Modern, widely used

The company paid its employees every two weeks.

They paid her well for her skills as a designer.

He was paid in cash at the end of each day.

3verbfigurativesuffered a consequence

Sometimes 'paid' is used figuratively to mean that someone experienced a bad result or punishment because of something they did. You are not paying money — you are 'paying' with suffering, loss, or difficulty.

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

He ignored the warning signs and paid the price when the project failed.

She stayed up all night and paid for it the next day at work.

They made a poor decision and paid dearly for it.

4adjectivereceiving money for work

When 'paid' describes a job or position, it means the person receives money for doing it — as opposed to doing it for free (which would be 'unpaid' or 'voluntary').

business, work · Modern, widely used

She is looking for a paid internship, not a volunteer one.

He took on a paid role at the charity after years of volunteering.

This is a paid position with full benefits.

5adjectivealready settled or cleared

When a bill, debt, or fee has been 'paid,' it means the money has already been given and nothing more is owed. It describes a completed financial obligation.

finance, everyday language · Modern, widely used

Please keep this receipt as proof that the invoice is paid.

All his debts were paid before he retired.

The rent is paid for the whole year.

Content generated by AI — may contain inaccuracies