repay

1 of 2

verb

re·​pay (ˌ)rē-ˈpā 

repaid (ˌ)rē-ˈpād  ; repaying

transitive verb

1

a

: to pay back

repay a loan

b

: to give or inflict in return or requital

repay evil for evil

2

: to make a return payment to : compensate, requite

3

: to make requital for : recompense

the success that repays hard work

intransitive verb

: to make return payment or requital

repayable

(ˌ)rē-ˈpā-ə-bəl 

adjective

repayment

(ˌ)rē-ˈpā-mənt 

noun

repayment

2 of 2

noun

re·​pay·​ment rə̇ˈpāmənt 

rēˈp-

1

: the act or an instance of paying back : reimbursement

was unable to make repayment of the loan at the time specified

2

: requital

this ingratitude was a poor repayment for his sacrifices

Synonyms of repay

Verb

• reimburse

Choose the Right Synonym for repay

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something.

pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of repay in a Sentence

Verb

You can repay the mortgage over 30 years.

She would rather have to repay the bank than borrow from her parents and have to repay them.

How can I ever repay your kindness?

How can I ever repay you for your kindness?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Sacramento City Teachers Association President Nikki Milevsky echoed Singh’s position, saying the trust’s funds do not have to be repaid. — Chaewon Chung updated August 27, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Russia reportedly sent drones to Iran this year, repaying Tehran’s favor after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. — Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

For those $510 million in bonds to support stadium construction, the Royals would not have any obligation to repay them, documents say, and the city eyes using economic tax revenue generated in and around the stadium to cover them. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026

If your settlement only reduced the balance by 30%, leaving $17,500 to repay, your combined settlement and fee costs could reach roughly $21,250 to $23,750. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from re- + payment

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for repay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

repay

verb

re·​pay (ˈ)rē-ˈpā 

repaid -ˈpād  ; repaying

1

: to pay back

repay a loan

2

: to make a return payment to

repay a creditor

repayable

-ˈpā-ə-bəl 

adjective

repayment

-ˈpā-mənt 

noun