Phrase guide

pay the penalty

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 incur negative consequences of one's deeds; to suffer as a result of some choice.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pay the price, pay the piper, face the music

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pay, the, penalty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Latin: poenās dō — to suffer for deeds
  • Polish: płacić za — to suffer for deeds
  • Polish: zapłacić za — to suffer for deeds