defray

de·fray | \ di-ˈfrā

How to pronounce defray (audio)

, dē- \

defrayed; defraying; defrays

Definition of defray

transitive verb

1 : to provide for the payment of : pay sold advertising on his website to help defray the cost of running it

2 archaic : to bear the expenses of (a person)

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Examples of defray in a Sentence

This will defray the costs.

Recent Examples on the Web And if patient payments can help defray the costs of research, more such trials can be done. — Sharon Begley, STAT, "Ethics questions swirl around historic Parkinson’s experiment," 14 May 2020 Some nonprofit camps are asking families to consider leaving their payment as a deposit for next year, to help defray maintenance costs. — Anne Marie Chaker, WSJ, "Will Summer Camps Open After Coronavirus Lockdowns? Your Summer 2020 Child-Care Questions Answered.," 13 May 2020 Others would require states to allow mail-in voting during national emergencies and authorize the funds to help defray the costs. — Anchorage Daily News, "Trump, Dems clash on boosting mail-in voting during pandemic," 5 Apr. 2020 The city recently approved $10,000 for helping shelters defray the unexpected costs of sanitizers, masks and other supplies, city housing officials said. — Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Berkley church hosts homeless for meals and overnights despite coronavirus worries," 22 Mar. 2020 In an effort to help defray the financial hardship caused by COVID-19, Governor Greg Abbott issued a waiver Wednesday night allowing restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with food purchases. — Alison Medley, Houston Chronicle, "Houston's best cocktails to order, now that you can get them delivered," 19 Mar. 2020 Provide federal Medicaid funds to help states defray costs associated with the crisis. — Ledyard King, USA TODAY, "Trump declares national emergency over coronavirus, allowing officials to direct billions in aid to those fighting virus," 13 Mar. 2020 Transport authorities in Singapore and Thailand began to offer rent relief in February to retail, dining and service operators for a period of six months to a year, to help defray costs and protect jobs. — Esther Fung, WSJ, "Airport Shops Suffer ‘Crisis’ as Coronavirus Upends Travel," 3 Mar. 2020 Thus, domestic cheeses may inch up in price to defray the big jump in some costs to consumers. — Laura Reiley, Washington Post, "This may be the moment American cheese, true American cheese, has been waiting for," 5 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defray.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

26 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defray. Accessed 6 Jun. 2020.

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