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
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 solar advocates pushed back, warning that the changes would lengthen payback periods, discourage solar investment and undermine clean energy goals adopted by cities like Boise.
—
Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 2 Oct. 2025
Maybe this is the flip side of – or payback for – October of 2024, when the Dodgers’ starting pitching was decimated but the work of their bullpen propelled them to a World Series championship.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
As Kelce added to a couple weeks ago by imitating Mahomes as payback for Mahomes insinuating Kelce couldn’t find Brazil on the map.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Retention also improves your unit economics, increasing lifetime value (LTV), reducing payback period and signaling real product-market fit to investors.
—Jay Sen, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
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Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 2 Oct. 2025
Maybe this is the flip side of – or payback for – October of 2024, when the Dodgers’ starting pitching was decimated but the work of their bullpen propelled them to a World Series championship.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
As Kelce added to a couple weeks ago by imitating Mahomes as payback for Mahomes insinuating Kelce couldn’t find Brazil on the map.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Retention also improves your unit economics, increasing lifetime value (LTV), reducing payback period and signaling real product-market fit to investors.
—Jay Sen, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payback. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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