paid off

past tense of pay off

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paid off History, and Ruzzin's literary career, reflect that his gamble paid off. Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 The Boston Red Sox seemingly went all in to sign free agent infielder Alex Bregman during last offseason, and it's paid off in a huge way. Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Courtesy of 24 Hours of Art In a short span, Dickerman’s efforts paid off. Ana María Caballero, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 These improvements paid off in a close race to the finish line. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025 Terrell eventually paid off or settled some of his debts, but there’s no record of him paying the IRS or many of his other creditors, whose legal claims typically expire after 10 years in California unless they’re renewed. Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 27 Aug. 2025 The approach paid off, and F1’s corporate hospitality earned recognition from major sponsors as the new millennium approached. Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 But for now, the young man is grateful that his hard work has quite literally paid off. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025 The billions in investments paid off, helping Target navigate challenges from Amazon and avoid the fate of Sears, JC Penney and other chains that filed for bankruptcy. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paid off
Verb
  • Busta also paid tribute to the late MTV VJ Ananda Lewis, who died in June at 52 years old after first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
    Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The trade has paid immediate dividends for Boston.
    Jim Bowden, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Reviewing fake CDLs experts say are sometimes issued by unscrupulous American trucking schools or bribed Mexican bureaucrats.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
  • But the vast majority of officials caught stealing, being bribed or taking kickbacks become footnotes in local history, with the cost of the graft passed on to taxpayers.
    Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Hopes were raised for a rapprochement between Harry and his father in July when aides of Harry and the King met for the first time in London.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Garcia’s signing was met with total consensus across the club, and Flick was one of the biggest advocates for Rashford’s move to Barca.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Paid off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paid%20off. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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