The difference between Compensate and Pay
When used as verbs, compensate means to do (something good) after (something bad) happens, whereas pay means to give money or other compensation to in exchange for goods or services.
Pay is also noun with the meaning: money given in return for work.
Pay is also adjective with the meaning: operable or accessible on deposit of coins.
check bellow for the other definitions of Compensate and Pay
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Compensate as a verb:
To do (something good) after (something bad) happens
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Compensate as a verb:
To pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration.
Examples:
"It is hard work, but they will compensate you well for it."
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Compensate as a verb (ambitransitive):
To make up for; to do something in place of something else; to correct, satisfy; to reach an agreement such that the scales are literally or (metaphorically) balanced; to equalize or make even.
Examples:
"His loud voice cannot compensate for a lack of personality."
"To compensate me for his tree landing on my shed, my neighbor paved my driveway."
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Compensate as a verb:
To adjust or adapt to a change, often a harm or deprivation.
Examples:
"I don't like driving that old car because it always steers a little to the left so I'm forever compensating for that when I drive it. Trust me, it gets annoying real fast."
"To compensate for his broken leg, Gary uses crutches."
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Pay as a verb (transitive):
To give money or other compensation to in exchange for goods or services.
Examples:
"he paid him to clean the place up"
"he paid her off the books and in kind where possible"
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Pay as a verb (ambitransitive):
To discharge, as a debt or other obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required.
Examples:
"she offered to pay the bill"
"he has paid his debt to society"
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Pay as a verb (transitive):
To be profitable for.
Examples:
"It didn't pay him to keep the store open any more."
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Pay as a verb (transitive):
To give (something else than money).
Examples:
"to pay attention"
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Pay as a verb (intransitive):
To be profitable or worth the effort.
Examples:
"crime doesn’t pay'"
"it will pay to wait"
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Pay as a verb (intransitive):
To discharge an obligation or debt.
Examples:
"He was allowed to go as soon as he paid."
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Pay as a verb (intransitive):
To suffer consequences.
Examples:
"He paid for his fun in the sun with a terrible sunburn."
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Pay as a noun:
Money given in return for work; salary or wages.
Examples:
"Many employers have rules designed to keep employees from comparing their pays."
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Pay as an adjective:
Operable or accessible on deposit of coins.
Examples:
"'pay toilet inline=1"
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Pay as an adjective:
Pertaining to or requiring payment.
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Pay as a verb (nautical, transitive):
To cover (the bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc.) with tar or pitch, or a waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.