What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pays
Example
The company pays its employees on a bi-weekly basis. [pays: verb]
Example
He pays for his groceries with cash. [pays: verb]
reimburse
Example
The company will reimburse you for any travel expenses incurred during the business trip. [reimburse: verb]
Example
She submitted her receipts to be reimbursed for the conference registration fee. [reimbursed: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pays is more commonly used than reimburse in everyday language. Pays is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while reimburse is more specific and is used primarily in personal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between pays and reimburse?
Pays is a neutral word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while reimburse is slightly more formal and is typically used in professional or official contexts.