payback

noun

pay·​back ˈpā-ˌbak 

1

: requital

2

: a return on an investment equal to the original capital outlay

also : the period of time elapsed before an investment is recouped

Synonyms

• revenge
• retaliation
• retribution

Examples of payback in a Sentence

They beat our team last year, so we've got to beat them this year as payback.

we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup

Recent Examples on the Web

But Spaun admitted his plans to give some payback to Hovland. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025

But their payback for two improbable victories was a loss that had seemed highly unlikely. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025

The Chargers must wait until Week 17 to get a chance to gain a payback for the Houston Texans’ 32-12 rout in an AFC wild-card game in January. —Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 14 May 2025

Handout | Getty Images News | Getty Images In comments at a town hall on the NewsNation network, Trump said the deal represents payback for the money the U.S. has spent so far on supporting Ukraine’s war effort. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payback

• payback time

Rhymes for payback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback