repay

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

Synonyms

• 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

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

In addition, members could be forced to repay the cost associated with tracking them down. —John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 18 July 2025

Rhiannon Do did not make any repayment on the loan and Aloha is asking that it now be repaid. —Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 17 July 2025

That leaves Kinder with an additional $2.6 billion to invest in growth projects, repay debt and fund its ongoing buyback program. —Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025

The assistance is for first-time homebuyers and is structured as a loan that doesn’t need to be repaid as long as the employee remains in good standing, doesn’t sell the home for three years and lives in the property. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for repay

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

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