paid

USAGE SUMMARY

'paid' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean that something has been paid for or to describe something that someone has been paid to do. For example: "I paid for the groceries with my credit card." "She was paid to paint the fence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"No, you go to the hospital, you get treated, you get care, and it's paid for, either by charity, the government or by the hospital.

The New York Times

She said: "As Mr Darling consistently explained, he paid for personal tax advice himself.

The Guardian

The accountant's fees claimed were for preparing his office accounts to ensure the correct amount of tax was paid.

The Guardian

However, refunds may be paid at GNMA's discretion.

The Guardian

The accountant's fees were fully declared for tax purposes and he paid tax on the benefit.

The Guardian

Subject to the above, GNMA's liability to you is limited to the fees you have actually paid for the relevant Guardian Masterclass.

The Guardian

(Expenses are paid by donations, and a few independent well-wishers also run "mirror sites" in support).

The Economist

In 2002 Art Solidari won a €15,000 prize from the city council and that allowed Blasco and López to employ a part-time co-ordinator, the NGO's only paid employee, to recruit and manage the volunteers and the workshops they run.

The Guardian

"Plunkett has paid a heavy price for putting his own interests above the integrity of the market and Barclays customerr.

The Guardian - Business

Details of the payment emerged in a report by the public spending watchdog published on Wednesday, which revealed that senior managers at the BBC were paid nearly £2m more than they were contractually obliged to over a three-year period.

The Guardian

"Do the math: you get paid like a four-piece, but you have four bands in your group".

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial transactions, use "paid" to clearly indicate that a payment has been completed, avoiding ambiguity about whether an invoice is still outstanding. Provide specific details such as the amount, date, and method of payment to ensure clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "payed", which is an archaic form of "paid" primarily used in nautical contexts (e.g., "payed out the rope"). In most modern contexts related to financial transactions, "paid" is the correct and preferred form.

Linguistic Context

Paid primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "pay". It denotes the completion of a financial transaction or the act of providing compensation. Ludwig confirms that "paid" is a valid word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "paid" is the past tense and past participle of "pay", signifying a completed financial transaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. With high frequency in news, business, and science contexts, understanding its proper usage is crucial for clear communication. Remember to use "paid" instead of the archaic "payed" in most modern contexts. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its correct application in various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

settled

Indicates the discharge of a debt or obligation; implies a completed payment.

reimbursed

Suggests repayment for expenses incurred; specifically implies compensation for a prior expenditure.

compensated

Implies providing remuneration for services rendered or losses incurred; focuses on offsetting a disadvantage or service.

disbursed

Refers to the distribution of funds; often used in formal or financial contexts.

remitted

Implies the sending of money, often over a distance; used in contexts of transferring funds.

covered

Suggests providing funds to meet an expense or debt; implies ensuring financial obligations are met.

cleared

Indicates that a payment has been processed and funds are available; often used in banking contexts.

honored

Suggests that a financial obligation or payment has been fulfilled; implies ethical or contractual obligation.

defrayed

Refers to bearing the cost of something, often partially; suggests contributing to expenses.

liquidated

Implies the conversion of assets into cash to settle debts or obligations; used in financial contexts involving asset sales.

FAQs

How is "paid" used in a sentence?

"Paid" functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "pay", indicating that a payment has been completed. For example, "The bill was "paid" on time" or "She was "paid" for her work".

What are some alternatives to using "paid"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "settled", "reimbursed", or "compensated" to convey similar meanings. Each alternative has a slightly different nuance.

Is it correct to use "payed" instead of "paid"?

While "payed" exists, it is an archaic form primarily used in nautical contexts (e.g., "payed out the rope"). In modern contexts related to financial transactions, "paid" is the correct and universally accepted form.

What's the difference between "paid" and "payable"?

"Paid" indicates that a payment has been completed, while "payable" indicates that a payment is due or capable of being paid. For example, "The invoice was "paid"", versus "The invoice is "payable" upon receipt".