paid

paid — verb

1. the form of pay used for past time, and also after have, has, or had.

1.verbA1
Definition

the form of pay used for past time, and also after have, has, or had.

Example

Marcus paid for the noodles before the movie started.

paid for + noun in simple past

We paid the driver in cash at the end.

paid + person + in cash

Common collocations
  • paid the bill
  • paid in cash
  • paid too much
  • paid for lunch
  • paid back
Synonyms
  • settled

    often used when a bill, debt, or account has been fully paid

  • covered

    informal; often means one person paid the cost for someone else

  • spent

    focuses on money going out, not always on paying a person or bill directly

Antonyms
  • owed

    means the money was still due rather than already given

Grammar Patterns

paid + object

paid for + noun

have/has/had paid + object

Usage Note

This form covers both a finished past action and the participle use after have, has, or had. For money meanings, English normally spells it paid; payed is kept for special rope and ship uses.

Common Mistakes

I have payed the bill already.
I have paid the bill already.
for money, the regular past form is paid.
She has paid yesterday.
She paid yesterday.
use the simple past with a finished time expression like yesterday.

paid — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For money actions, paid is the ordinary past form of pay and is the broadest choice. Settled often appears with bills, debts, or accounts, and it suggests that nothing remains unpaid. Covered is more informal and often means one person paid the cost for another person or group. Refunded is different because the money comes back after someone has already paid it. Spent is broader still: it focuses on using money, not always on paying a person, service, or bill directly. You can say Marcus paid the driver, the hotel bill was settled, Nina covered lunch for her friends, the airline refunded the ticket, and Leo spent too much at the night market.

settled ↗coveredrefundedspent ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

Paid is the past form and past participle of pay. The older verb came into English through French from a Latin root linked with calming, satisfying, or settling what is owed. Over time, English used pay for giving money, and paid became the regular form for past-time uses and later adjective uses such as paid work and well-paid staff.