reimburse

verb

re·​im·​burse ˌrē-əm-ˈbərs 

reimbursed; reimbursing

transitive verb

1

: to pay back to someone : repay

reimburse travel expenses

2

: to make restoration or payment of an equivalent to

reimburse him for his traveling expenses

reimbursable

ˌrē-əm-ˈbər-sə-bəl 

adjective

reimbursement

ˌrē-əm-ˈbərs-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of reimburse

• repay
• compensate

Choose the Right Synonym for reimburse

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 reimburse in a Sentence

make sure you keep your receipts so we can reimburse you for your expenses

Recent Examples on the Web

DeSantis has said the federal government has pledged to reimburse the state for the spending, since immigration enforcement is a federal obligation, but the state hasn't received the money. —CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

Centennial, meanwhile, agreed in 2022 to reimburse $250,000 worth of sales tax at the store to Amazon over a 10-year period. —Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026

Counties would have five years to repay the loans, and would also have to pledge a source of revenue in the event FEMA didn't reimburse the funding. —Alex Rozier Mississippi Today, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026

The insurance companies want the energy companies to reimburse them for claims paid to homeowners. —Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

re- + obsolete English imburse to put in the pocket, pay, from Medieval Latin imbursare, from Latin in- in- + Medieval Latin bursa purse — more at purse

First Known Use

1511, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reimburse

• universe
• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse

Kids Definition

reimburse

verb

re·​im·​burse ˌrē-əm-ˈbərs 

reimbursed; reimbursing

: to pay back : repay

reimburse travel expenses

reimbursable

-ˈbər-sə-bəl 

adjective

reimbursement

-ˈbər-smənt 

noun

Etymology

from re- "again, back" and obsolete imburse "pay, put in the pocket," from Latin imbursare (same meaning), from earlier in- "in" and bursa "purse, small leather bag" — related to disburse, purse

Legal Definition

reimburse

transitive verb

re·​im·​burse ˌrē-əm-ˈbərs 

reimbursed; reimbursing

1

: to pay back (a sum lost or expended) to someone

will reimburse the court costs

2

: to make restoration or payment of an equivalent to

reimburse the employee for travel expenses

reimbursement noun