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

The funds were used to pay down bank debt incurred during COVID-19, help pay off capital expenses to enhance its stadium, Anfield, and repurchase the Melwood training ground. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2026

At first, it was thought that over time, governments would want to allow growth to organically whittle down debt-to-income ratios, which is the ideal way to pay down massive peacetime spending and tax cut binges. — Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026

Despite rising costs, borrowers are showing more discipline by paying down debt and improving credit scores. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

In the most part, IEEFA's Williams-Derry said oil companies have sought to stockpile cash reserves and pay down debt to improve their balance sheets. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Aug. 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