payment
gb/pˈeɪmənt/ us/pˈeɪmənt/
A2
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
action
1
giving money for goods or services
When you give money to buy something or pay someone for work.
Usage pattern:
make [a/an] payment to [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'payment' (the act or instance of paying) with 'pay' (the verb) or 'salary' (regular income).
Synonyms
remittance (More formal, often used in business or banking contexts.)
Antonyms
nonpayment (Refers to the failure to pay money owed.)
Collocations
make a payment
|late payment
|cash payment
|monthly payment
|payment due
Themes
business
|daily life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You can make your payment online using a credit card.
- The payment was processed within two business days.
- She missed her last payment on the car loan.
- We require full payment before shipping the goods.
Learner examples
- I made a payment for the book.
- The payment is due today.
- He gave the payment to the shop.
- I will make the payment tomorrow.
Noun
A2
entity
2
money given as payment
The money that you give to buy something or pay someone for work.
Usage pattern:
receive [a/an] payment from [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'payment' as money with 'price', which is the cost before paying.
Synonyms
fee (Often used for a set charge for a service.)
Antonyms
refund (Money returned after a payment, usually when goods are returned or a service is canceled.)
Collocations
final payment
|monthly payment
|cash payment
Themes
finance
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The final payment will be made after the project is completed.
- We received a large payment from our client.
- Your monthly payment is $500.
Learner examples
- I got the payment from my boss.
- The payment was $20.
- She sent the payment yesterday.
Noun
B1
action
3
process of giving wages or compensation
When a person or company gives money to workers for their job.
Synonyms
payout (Informal; often used for sums given to employees or winners.)
Collocations
payment schedule
|payment process
Themes
business
|employment
|work
|finance
Examples
- Payment for temporary staff will be handled by the finance department.
- The company changed its payment schedule to twice a month.
- We ensure prompt payment to all contractors.
Learner examples
- The company makes payment every month.
- Payment is on Friday.
- They changed the payment time.
Noun
B2
entity
4
punishment or reward given in return
Something you get, good or bad, because of what you did.
Synonyms
recompense (More formal; can refer to both reward and compensation.)
Themes
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His kindness was its own payment.
- She saw the promotion as fair payment for years of hard work.
- He got his just payment for betraying them.
Learner examples
- She got good payment for her help.
- He got bad payment for his lies.
- It was fair payment for the job.
Grammar
Dictionary form
payment
IPA
GB/pˈeɪmənt/
US/pˈeɪmənt/
Syllables & stress
pay - ment (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pay)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: payment
- Plural: payment, payments
Word family
Expressions
advance payment
1/ədvˈæns pˈeɪmənt/
fixed phrase
money paid before getting goods/services
money you pay before you get something or before work is finished.
Examples
- An advance payment is needed before we start work.
- They asked for an advance payment of $200.
down payment
1/dˈaʊn pˈeɪmənt/
fixed phrase
initial part of price paid upfront
the first part of the total price you pay before you get something and pay the rest later.
Examples
- We made a 20% down payment on the house.
- A down payment is required to reserve your order.
in full payment
1/ˈɪn fˈʊl pˈeɪmənt/
fixed phrase
give all money owed at once
when you give all the money you owe at one time.
Examples
- They accepted the check in full payment of the debt.
- He handed over cash in full payment for the car.
late payment
1/lˈeɪt pˈeɪmənt/
fixed phrase
money given after due date
money you pay after the date it was supposed to be paid.
Examples
- There will be a fee for late payment.
- Late payments can affect your credit score.
make a payment
1/mˈeɪk ə pˈeɪmənt/
fixed phrase
give money owed to someone/something
to give money that you owe to someone or for something you bought.
Examples
- I need to make a payment on my credit card today.
- Customers can make a payment online or in person.