pay down

verb

paid down; paying down; pays down

transitive verb

: to reduce (a debt) by repaying in part

Examples of pay down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use a balance transfer credit card A balance transfer can move your existing debt to a new card offering a low or 0% introductory APR, potentially giving you a year or longer to pay down the balance while minimizing interest charges. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Public companies often have to balance paying down debt with buying back their own stock, with the latter move often helping boost investor confidence. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Harder to pay down debt The relentlessly high gas prices are exacerbating the affordability crisis affecting many Americans. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

It’s paid down by architects who insist on single definitions, engineers who insist on lineage and executives who insist on paying the interest. — Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pay down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown