prepay

verb

pre·​pay (ˌ)prē-ˈpā How to pronounce prepay (audio)
prepaid (ˌ)prē-ˈpād How to pronounce prepay (audio) ; prepaying

transitive verb

: to pay or pay the charge on in advance
prepayment noun

Examples of prepay in a Sentence

Special orders must be prepaid.
Recent Examples on the Web Savers can spend hundreds, not thousands of dollars initially, to prepay just one credit hour. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 19 Mar. 2024 How to prepay to ride the CONNECT 1: Each of the CONNECT line's 32 stations will have a payment validator located on the platform. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 Price: $20 at prepay events, $22.50 in store at Glory Days Apparel, $25 online or $30 day of the event. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024 Jeong finally gave up and asked Martin, who had prepaid for the pants, to come back the next day. Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Further, all the doubts and losses, especially the fate of buyers who prepaid for apartments that may never become available, has turned off millions of potential Chinese homebuyers, further depressing this once-important sector. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 With the high demand for Vegas hotel rooms during the Super Bowl, Hentschel suggested people prepay for their rooms rather than pay upon arrival and ask for early check-in to secure their rooms. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024 Are there any penalties for prepaying the mortgage? Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024 Life insurance policies can also allow owners to essentially prepay estate taxes for their heirs, but premiums can be onerous. Ira Boudway, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prepay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prepay was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near prepay

Cite this Entry

“Prepay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prepay. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prepay

verb
pre·​pay (ˈ)prē-ˈpā How to pronounce prepay (audio)
prepaid -ˈpād How to pronounce prepay (audio) ; prepaying
: to pay or pay for in advance
prepayment noun

Legal Definition

prepay

transitive verb
pre·​pay prē-ˈpā How to pronounce prepay (audio)
prepaid; prepaying
: to pay or pay the charge on in advance (as of date due or maturity date)
no penalty for prepaying your student loan
prepayment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on prepay

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!