Phrase guide

pay one's own way

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To pay for oneself, not relying on the generosity of others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He paid his own way through community college and then transferred to a state university.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pay one's own freight

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Synonym of pay for itself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Any in-house product development must pay its own way.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pay for itself

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.