DictionaryfootPaying a cost
verb

foot

To pay a bill or expense.

The company foots the bill for the team's travel.

Etymology

The payment verb developed through the foot of an account, where its total was entered. Footing the bill came to mean meeting that total cost.

More examples

  • Who will foot the cost of the repairs?
  • They had already footed the entire expense.
  • She is footing the bill for the celebration.

Forms

foot · foots · footed · footing

Similar words

pay
The usual verb without the bill-paying idiom.
cover
Can mean providing enough money without directly paying the bill.