pay out

USAGE SUMMARY

"pay out" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it when you need to describe someone who is paying money to someone else. Example sentence: The bank was required to pay out a large settlement to the plaintiff.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

How often do we pay out?

The New York Times

They also pay out regular dividends.

The New York Times

It will pay out next year.

The Guardian - Business

Will the policy pay out for treatment?

The Guardian - Money

Who will have to pay out £100?

The Guardian

How much did you pay out?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Patients must pay out-of-pocket.

Huffington Post

Most individuals pay out-of-pocket, or through private dental insurance from their place of employment.

BMJ Open

Generally, beneficiaries pay out-of-pocket for monthly Part D premiums all year.

BMC Health Services Research

At the remaining facilities, patients had to pay out-of-pocket regardless of their insurance status.

Global Health Action

Patients are required to pay out-of-pocket for medical care, including RRT.

BMC Nephrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about insurance or legal contexts, using "pay out" clarifies that a claim has been honored and funds are being released.

Common error

Avoid using "pay out" interchangeably with verbs like "spend" or "invest". "Pay out" specifically refers to disbursing money, often in response to an obligation or claim, not general expenditures.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pay out" is that of a phrasal verb, used to describe the action of disbursing or distributing money, often in settlement of a claim or debt. Ludwig's examples show it in contexts ranging from insurance settlements to company dividends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pay out" is a common phrasal verb that means to disburse or distribute money, especially in settlement of a claim or obligation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. The examples from Ludwig highlight its usage in contexts ranging from insurance and finance to general expenses. Its neutral formality makes it suitable for both professional and casual communication. To ensure clarity, avoid using "pay out" when you simply mean to spend or invest money; it's more specific to disbursing funds in a formal or obligatory manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disburse funds

Focuses on the formal act of distributing money, especially from a specific fund or account.

make a disbursement

Emphasizes the action of releasing funds for a particular purpose.

issue payment

Highlights the act of formally providing or sending a payment.

release funds

Focuses on the act of making money available for use.

settle a claim

Specifically refers to resolving a claim by providing payment.

provide compensation

Indicates the act of giving money to offset a loss or injury.

render payment

A more formal way to describe making a payment.

clear a debt

Suggests the act of paying off an outstanding debt.

remit payment

Emphasizes sending payment, often across distances or through a formal process.

allocate funds

Highlights the process of designating money for a specific purpose before distribution.

FAQs

How can I use "pay out" in a sentence?

You can use "pay out" to describe the act of disbursing money, such as "The insurance company had to "pay out" millions in claims after the hurricane".

What are some alternatives to using "pay out"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "disburse funds", "issue payment", or "release funds" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "the company will pay out dividends"?

Yes, it is correct. In financial contexts, ""pay out"" is often used to describe a company distributing dividends to its shareholders.

What is the difference between ""pay out"" and "spend"?

"Pay out" specifically refers to disbursing funds, especially in response to a claim or obligation, while "spend" refers to generally using money for goods or services.