paying

USAGE SUMMARY

"paying" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning to give money in exchange for goods or services: I'm paying my rent this afternoon.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A saver would need to have more than £72,000 deposited in the current top-paying easy access account (paying 1.4%) to breach the £1,000-a-year income barrier.

The Guardian - Money

On average passengers are now paying £600 more for a season ticket and yet seeing no change in their pay packets".

The Guardian

"Our energy market reforms are about making the market more competitive, but also recognising that not just consumers but also businesses have been paying too much for their bills, and we're introducing a temporary price freeze to help consumers.

The Guardian - Money

Here's the thing: in order for fees to work, there needs be something worth paying to avoid.

The Economist

It had high profit margins and real pricing power, even as it was paying its workers union wages.

The Economist

Against this, the three options set out for debate would leave an individual paying an average £20,000-£22,500 under a basic partnership scheme, though some would pay far more; £20,000-£25,000 under a voluntary insurance scheme, though the uninsured might pay much more; and £17,000-£20,000 under a compulsory comprehensive scheme.

The Guardian

Clearly, he hadn't bargained on the fact that "paying forward" for the stunt would entail losing his wife, his cat, his last remaining money, and any hope of shopping at the mall again for 12 months after Bloomington police ordered him not to return to the scene for a year.

The Guardian - Opinion

In 2012, a bidding war for GMG Radio – the third largest radio group in the UK – resulted in Global Radio paying £70m for the barely profitable operation.

The Guardian

For its part, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) says that paying the UKHCA's £15.74 would cost an extra £342m a year in England, "which would require us to make very serious further cuts in parts of the adult social care service".

The Guardian

A survey by the UKHCA found the average rate across the UK was £13.66 an hour, with Liverpool and neighbouring Knowsley councils paying less than £11.

The Guardian

At last, bankers are paying the price for their bailouts – in Ireland, at least.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotations of synonyms like "remitting" or "disbursing" to ensure they align with the intended tone and formality of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "paying" in passive constructions where the recipient of the payment is unclear. For instance, instead of "Money was paying", specify "The money was paying the bills" or "The bills were being paid with the money."

Linguistic Context

The word "paying" primarily functions as a verb, specifically the present participle of "pay". It describes an ongoing action of giving money in exchange for goods, services, or to settle a debt, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paying" is the present participle form of the verb "pay" and is used to describe the ongoing action of giving money in exchange for goods, services, or to settle a debt. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is correct and usable in written English. It is a very common word found in various contexts, especially in news and business, with a neutral register. When writing, make sure the context is clear about what is being paid for and to whom the payment is being made. Alternatives include "making payment", "settling an account", and "remitting funds", each with slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making payment

Focuses on the action of payment rather than the ongoing process.

settling an account

Implies finalizing a financial obligation.

remitting funds

Suggests a formal or official transfer of money.

disbursing money

Implies distributing money, often from a fund or account.

covering the cost

Focuses on the act of meeting an expense.

footing the bill

An idiomatic expression for paying the entire expense.

clearing a debt

Highlights the act of eliminating a financial obligation.

honoring an invoice

Suggests accepting and paying a formal request for payment.

bearing the expense

Emphasizes enduring or carrying the financial burden.

liquidating assets

Suggests converting possessions into cash to make a payment.

FAQs

How can I use "paying" in a sentence?

You can use "paying" to describe the act of giving money for goods or services, such as "I am "paying the bills"" or "She is "paying for her education"".

What are some alternatives to the word "paying"?

Alternatives include "making payment", "settling an account", or "remitting funds" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am paying"?

Yes, "I am paying" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that you are currently in the process of giving money for something.

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

"Paying" is the present participle, used for ongoing actions, while "paid" is the past tense and past participle, used for completed actions. For example, "I am "paying now"" vs. "I "paid yesterday"".