pay off 1 of 3

verb

Definition of pay offnext
1
as in to pay
to give what is owed for I finally paid off the loan

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bribe
to influence someone with a bribe she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked

Synonyms & Similar Words

payoff

2 of 3

noun

ˈpā-ˌȯf How to pronounce payoff (audio)
as in profit
the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received the payoff on the investment was only about $500

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

payoff

3 of 3

adjective

as in pivotal

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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 pay off
Verb
Tuchel’s focus on his positioning, constantly tweaking his in-game setup to bring the best out of Bellingham, is paying off. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 July 2026 Perhaps the Padres’ homework on first-rounder Coleman Borthwick will pay off in more ways than one. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026
Noun
This emotional payoff is uncertain in every other literary genre. — Katelyn Frey, The Conversation, 10 July 2026 Most guides recommend the five-day classic itinerary as the best balance of pace and payoff. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Adjective
Not wrong for much of the last three decades — but Saturday night’s gig, and all the joyous revelry surrounding it, showed why the Live ’25 Tour has been payoff enough for none of them to look back in anger at any of it. — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pay off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay off
  1. pay
  2. bribe
  3. profit
  4. pivotal
  5. meet
  6. get at
  7. watershed
  8. buy
Verb
  • Lucas said each year the City Council allocates more than 25% of its annual operating revenue to fund the Police Department, yet the agency struggles each year with paying legal settlements.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • But if your paperwork is approved and your interview is completed, and your fees are paid, congratulations!
    — Josie Fischels, NPR, 14 July 2026
Definition of pay
Verb
  • In exchange, the indictment said, the bettors bribed Beasley and his debts to Davis were reduced or eliminated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Undercover recordings allegedly captured Owens detailing how public officials could be bribed and how the illicit funds could be laundered through businesses and campaign donations, the outlet reported.
    — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of bribe
Noun
  • The International Air Transport Association last month warned that global airlines could see their profits halved this year due to rising jet fuel costs, which are expected to be about 70% higher year-on-year.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Oil prices, which skyrocketed for the first few months of the US-Israeli war with Iran, are now coming back down, closing a window of opportunity for Russia to use higher profits on its exports to close its widening budget deficit.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of profit
Adjective
  • The show places David in pivotal moments in history, from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the trenches of World War I to the bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • The moments everyone remembers For many, the Centennial Olympic Games arrived at a pivotal time in life.
    — Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of pivotal
Verb
  • Clemente, the radar systems professor, noted that Ukrainian industry has become extremely agile to meet evolving threats.
    — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • For the religious right, churches have long been a place where politics meet ideological beliefs.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • Fast-food restaurants, once the first stop for Americans looking to get at least one meal in before a long work day, are fighting to win back customers.
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Compared with Let’s Move’s easygoing recommendations—children should get at least one hour of physical activity each day, and everyone should drink one more glass of water—MAHA is also considerably more macho.
    — Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2025
Definition of get at
Adjective
  • At Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi, government officials described the agreement as a watershed moment for bilateral trade.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
  • Two players acquired during the watershed opening day of free agency have little name recognition.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of watershed
Verb
  • Aethon has agreed to buy back a 25% stake in Adamas, and Aethon managing director Gordon Huddleston will serve as the Adamas CEO, representing Mitsubishi’s interests.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • Under the new agreement, the $14 million debt will be forgiven, and Western Hills will instead buy water based on the community's actual demand.
    — Nina Burns, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of buy

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Cite this Entry

“Pay off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20off. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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