1
a
: a payment usually of money for labor or services usually according to contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
b
wages plural
: the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production
2
: recompense, reward
—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
the wages of sin is death—
Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
waged; waging
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
: to be in process of occurring
the riot waged for several hours—Amer. Guide Series: Md.
Synonyms
Examples of wage in a Sentence
Noun
Both of them make decent wages.
The table and chairs cost two weeks' wages.
The company offers competitive wages and good benefits.
The company gave workers a four percent wage increase this year.
Verb
They waged a guerrilla war against the government.
Local activists are waging a campaign to end homelessness in the region.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gregory J. Rummo, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Nov. 2024
Prices need to come down and wages/incomes need to go up for homebuyers to feel more comfortable jumping into homeownership.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Laura Kelly, The Hill, 25 Nov. 2024
What is even more distressing is that, within the documentary’s context, this moment comes early in a battle still very much waging.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wage 
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Noun
While the economy has been better in recent years, with higher wage growth, lower inflation, and more affordable goods, unemployment remains low and people’s retirement accounts are flush.
—Verb
Russia is suspected of waging cyberattacks, destroying undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, sabotaging across maritime borders and jamming flight communications, to name a few such tactics that its neighbors allege are part of hybrid warfare.
—Dictionary Entries Near wage
Cite this Entry
“Wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
wage
1 of 2 verb
waged; waging
1
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
2
: to be in the process of occurring
the battle waged for hours
wage
2 of 2 noun1
: a payment for work or services usually calculated on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
—often used in plural
2
singular or plural
: something given or received because of one's actions : reward
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