payment
/ˈpeɪmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpeɪmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpā-mənt/ (ame, mw)
payment — noun
- paymentsingular
- paymentsplural
1. money someone gives for goods, services, or a debt
money someone gives for goods, services, or a debt
Nina made the final payment for her scooter at the bank.
make the final payment for + thing
The hotel asked for payment before guests received their room keys.
ask for payment before + service
After lunch, Marcus left a cash payment on the small tray.
A late payment for electricity worried the family all week.
The shop sent Mia a text after her card payment cleared.
- fee
usually money paid for a service, class, or official process
- charge
often the amount a business asks you to pay
- instalment
one part of a larger amount paid over time
- deposit
money paid early to reserve something
文法句型
make a payment
payment for + noun
payment by + method
用法筆記
Common with make, receive, and prepositions such as for and by. Distinguish from sense 4, which focuses on the act or method of paying rather than the sum itself.
常見錯誤
2. the act or process of giving money
the act or process of giving money
The clinic accepts payment at the front desk after the eye test.
accept payment at + place
Online payment saves time for parents at the school office.
online payment
Card payment failed when the store lost power at noon.
The museum allows payment by phone during busy holiday weekends.
At the gas station, payment happens after drivers choose a pump.
- paying
the closest plain-English form, but less common as a noun
- settlement
more formal and often used for completing a bill or debt
- transaction
broader because it includes the whole business exchange, not only the money step
文法句型
payment by + method
accept payment at + place
online payment
用法筆記
Often modified by words for method, such as card, cash, online, or by phone. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the amount itself rather than the paying event or system.
常見錯誤
3. money a person finally gets after it should have been given earlier
money a person finally gets after it should have been given earlier
After the court case, forty nurses received payment for last year's missing wages.
receive payment for earlier wages
The retired driver got a payment when the pension mistake was fixed.
get a payment after an error
Months later, city workers saw a payment from the delayed raise.
Rina checked her bank app when the promised payment finally arrived.
- back pay
more specific to wages that should have been paid before
- arrears
often refers to overdue money connected with salary, rent, or benefits
- settlement
a broader final amount paid after a dispute or delay
文法句型
receive a payment
get a payment
payment for + earlier wages
用法筆記
Often follows receive or get in stories about salary, pensions, or benefits. Distinguish from sense 1, which can be any ordinary payment and does not imply delay or an earlier debt.
常見錯誤
4. something given back to thank or repay someone for what they did
something given back to thank or repay someone for what they did
The old farmer gave the boys apples in payment for their help.
in payment for + noun
As payment for her song, the cafe offered Nina free cake.
as payment for + noun
The guide accepted a warm meal as payment after the storm.
In payment for fixing the gate, the family fed Owen dinner.
- reward
the broadest word for something given in return for help or effort
- repayment
stresses giving something back for what was received
- recompense
very formal and literary
文法句型
in payment for + noun
as payment for + noun
用法筆記
Usually appears in the patterns as payment for or in payment for. It is much more formal than sense 1 and often sounds literary or ceremonial.