payback

noun

pay·​back ˈpā-ˌbak 

1

: requital

2

: a return on an investment equal to the original capital outlay

also : the period of time elapsed before an investment is recouped

Synonyms of payback

• revenge
• retaliation
• retribution

Examples of payback in a Sentence

They beat our team last year, so we've got to beat them this year as payback.

we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup

Recent Examples on the Web

Be wary of those who push for your cash without offering sufficient collateral or payback plans. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, threatened payback against Israel after a wave of strikes on steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear areas inside the Islamic Republic. —Sean Nevin, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026

The novel works well as a story about sisters and sisterhood, toxic relationships, payback, herbs and a touch of the mystic. —Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026

But Cluff made four free throws in the final 43 seconds, and the Boilermakers got some payback for a two-point loss at Pauley Pavilion in January. —CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payback

• payback time

Rhymes for payback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback