payments

IPA/ˈpeɪ.mənt/
KK[pˈemənts]IPA/ˈpeɪ.mənt/

payments — noun

  • paymentssingular
  • paymentsesplural

1. Money that someone gives to another person or business, usually for something bo

1.名詞A2
釋義

Money that someone gives to another person or business, usually for something bought or as part of a regular plan such as a loan or a bill.

例句

Asher makes monthly payments of three hundred dollars on his student loan.

monthly payments + of + amount

The company accepted the first payment but refused to take any more money after that.

first payment / accept a payment

同義詞
  • instalment

    one of several regular payments that together make up the total amount

  • remittance

    a formal term for a sum of money sent, especially to a person in another place

  • premium

    a regular payment made for an insurance policy

文法句型

make + payment

payment + of + amount

payment + for + item

用法筆記

This sense is countable. It is very common in the plural form payments when referring to regular sums paid over time (e.g. loan payments, mortgage payments).

常見錯誤

❌I need to make payment for this book.
✅I need to make a payment for this book.
💡When referring to a single sum, you need the article 'a'.
❌I have many pays to make this month.
✅I have many payments to make this month.
💡'Pay' is a verb, not a countable noun. Use 'payment' for individual sums.

2. Something good that someone receives as a result of their efforts, hard work, go

2.名詞B2
釋義

Something good that someone receives as a result of their efforts, hard work, good behaviour, or a particular action — used in a figurative way, not about actual money.

例句

For Devika, the biggest payment for years of training was the chance to help others.

payment + for + effort/action (figurative)

The team saw the championship trophy as the only payment they needed for all their hard work.

同義詞
  • reward

    more common and neutral; can be concrete or abstract

  • recompense

    formal; something given to make up for effort or loss

文法句型

payment + for + noun/gerund

用法筆記

This is a figurative, literary sense. It is not used for actual money transactions. Distinguish from sense 1 (AMOUNT PAID), which refers to real sums of money.

常見錯誤

❌The payment for his hard work was a bonus of $500.
✅The reward for his hard work was a bonus of $500.' or 'The payment for his hard work was $500.
💡If real money is involved, use sense 1. This sense is reserved for figurative, non-monetary rewards.

3. Money that a person finally receives after it was owed to them from an earlier t

3.名詞B2
釋義

Money that a person finally receives after it was owed to them from an earlier time, for example when a pay rise is applied from a past date or when a debt is settled late.

例句

After the new contract was signed, workers received back payments covering the previous six months.

back payments + covering + period

The landlord agreed to accept the overdue rent in two separate back payments by the end of the month.

同義詞
  • arrears

    money that is overdue and unpaid; stronger negative tone

  • back pay

    uncountable; more common in American English for the same idea

文法句型

receive + payments

back payments

用法筆記

This sense is common in employment and tenancy contexts. The phrase back payments is almost always used in the plural. In American English, back pay (uncountable) is more common for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I received my payment for last month.
✅I received my back payments for the months before the raise was approved.
💡A regular monthly salary is a sense 1 payment. 'Back payments' specifically refers to money owed from an earlier period.

4. The process or action of giving money to someone for something you have bought o

4.名詞A2
釋義

The process or action of giving money to someone for something you have bought or for a service they have provided.

例句

You can choose between cash payment and credit card payment at the checkout counter.

cash payment / credit card payment — common collocations for methods

Stefan paid the plumber's invoice online as soon as he saw the payment was due that Friday.

payment due + specific invoice (concrete transaction)

同義詞
  • settlement

    formal; the act of paying a debt or bill in full

  • remittance

    formal; the sending of money, especially to a distant person or business

文法句型

in payment for

upon payment of

make payment

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'a payment' or 'payments' for the general process of paying. For a specific sum of money, use sense 1. Frequently used in fixed phrases such as 'payment in advance', 'payment on delivery', and 'terms of payment'.

常見錯誤

❌The payments of the bill was easy.
✅The payment of the bill was easy.
💡When referring to the general act, use the uncountable form (no 's'). Use 'payments' only for individual sums (sense 1).