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 Our second priority is to pay down high-cost debt and strengthen the balance sheet. Ted Reed, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 With the Dodgers, Friedman focused on paying down those kinds of contracts, or waiting them out. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 Make a plan to aggressively pay down high-interest debt before taking on new financial goals. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 4 Oct. 2024 The practice has become more common as rates have climbed, with 49% of buyers choosing to pay down the rate in 2023, according to online broker Zillow’s most recent data. Mike Winters, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pay down 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pay down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pay down was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near pay down

Cite this Entry

“Pay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20down. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on pay down

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!