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 state budget passed this summer included a provision forcing Charlotte-area municipalities who opposed adding toll lanes to Interstate 77 South to either reverse their opposition or repay NCDOT for money already spent on the project. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026

The suit also claims UCLA violated its federal grant terms and asks for the funds to be repaid. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

After Newsom’s parents filed for divorce in 1971, Newsom was unofficially adopted by Gordon, repaying the favor the Newsoms had extended decades earlier. — Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026

But detectives later discovered that McVay never hired the attorney the victim requested and that McVay repaid herself for the attorney’s retainer, police allege in the statement. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 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