pay up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To pay in total a sum which is owed, especially when the sum has been owed for a period of time.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Trả tổng số tiền nợ, đặc biệt khi số tiền đã nợ trong một thời gian

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

At Whitsunday and Martinmas I will have enough to pay up the incumbrance of £3000 due to old Moss's daughter.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “pay up” mean?

To pay in total a sum which is owed, especially when the sum has been owed for a period of time.

Is “pay up” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.