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

Albritton noted that many essentials — including groceries, children’s items and hurricane preparedness supplies — are already tax-free, and said the Legislature plans to pass a balanced budget that pays down debt, cuts taxes and saves for the future. —Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

Even President Biden recognized the risk, providing states with additional federal aid and explicitly directing them to use those funds to pay down unemployment insurance debt. —Vince Fong, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026

If a Tricolor customer were making timely payments, the loan would be paid down over time. —Samuel O'Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026

There is your budget to tend to, your savings and retirement accounts to contribute to and your various bill due dates to keep track of — not to mention managing your investment portfolio and working to pay down any debt. —Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 1 Jan. 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