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
Some of the fallout was payback.
—
Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
So, instead of looking to exercise some demons from their recent past, the Avs will have the opportunity to get payback for ones from further back in the club’s history.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
The study also calculated a market’s median monthly rent cost, yearly rental income, and the payback period.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
But maybe that was the payback for Hall on Sanderson.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
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Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
So, instead of looking to exercise some demons from their recent past, the Avs will have the opportunity to get payback for ones from further back in the club’s history.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
The study also calculated a market’s median monthly rent cost, yearly rental income, and the payback period.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
But maybe that was the payback for Hall on Sanderson.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payback. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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