pay dividends

phrase

: to directly benefit someone for something he or she has done
Our efforts are finally paying dividends.

Examples of pay dividends in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The payout ratio is the percentage of earnings used to pay dividends. — Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Young played 76 percent of the snaps for a second straight season last year, but dialing that back just a bit could pay dividends for the Rams’ Super Bowl push — and for his market value as a free agent at such a coveted position. — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 28 July 2026 Javier Milei's market reforms continue to pay dividends, as the country receives its third credit upgrade in three months. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 25 July 2026 Understanding risk, recognizing opportunities, and building your financial knowledge can pay dividends over a lifetime. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay dividends

Rhymes for pay dividends

See All Rhymes for pay dividends

Browse Nearby Words

pay dirt
pay dividends
pay down
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pay dividends.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20dividends. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All