What is the Opposite(Antonym) of “pay”?

The Opposite(Antonym) of “pay”

The antonyms of pay are withhold and retain. The antonyms withhold and retain convey the opposite meaning of pay, which is to keep or hold back something instead of giving it away.

Explore all Antonyms of “pay”

• withhold
• retain

Definitions and Examples of withhold, retain

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

withhold

To refuse to give or grant something that is due or expected.

Example

The company decided to withhold his bonus until he completed the project.

retain

To keep possession of something; to continue to have something.

Example

He decided to retain ownership of the property instead of selling it.

Key Differences: withhold vs retain

• 1. Withhold implies a deliberate decision not to give or grant something that is due or expected.
• 2. Retain implies keeping possession of something that one already has.

Effective Usage of withhold, retain

• 1. Business: Use withhold when talking about holding back payment or bonuses.
• 2. Legal: Use retain when talking about keeping possession of something, such as property or assets.
• 3. Personal: Use these words in personal conversations to express the opposite meaning of pay.

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Remember this!

The antonyms of pay are withhold and retain. Withhold means to refuse to give or grant something that is due or expected, while retain means to keep possession of something. These words can be used in business, legal, and personal contexts to express the opposite meaning of pay.