as in to pay off
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Recent Examples of pay down
Because using your refund to pay down your balance may save you a mint.
—
Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Second, pay down high interest debt.
—Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The tax refund could be used to pay high heating bills, pay down credit cards, cover a major home repair, buy a car or even save for the future.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Budget caps force unprecedented surpluses, which the governor and legislature then used to pay down pension debt and bolster reserves.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pay down
Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Second, pay down high interest debt.
—Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
The tax refund could be used to pay high heating bills, pay down credit cards, cover a major home repair, buy a car or even save for the future.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Budget caps force unprecedented surpluses, which the governor and legislature then used to pay down pension debt and bolster reserves.
—Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay down
Verb
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And in November 2025 the efforts paid off as Noble South earned a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand designation, quite nice since Rainosek admits there’s a little brother complex when Mobile is compared to New Orleans.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
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With their equity, employees have helped their parents pay off mortgages and have plans to make educational dreams come true.—
Vicente Reynal,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Topped with even more fresh blueberries and lemon slices, this bright cake will surely satisfy a crowd.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
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Bain being available would satisfy that requirement to keep the talented pass rusher in the Sunshine State.—
Nick Harris
April 20,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20down. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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