as in to pay off
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Recent Examples of pay down
With mortgage rates still elevated, a recast can be a beneficial way to pay down principal instead of refinancing into a higher rate.
—
Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Some people prefer the Debt Avalanche method (pay down debt with highest annual percentage rate, or APR, first); others respond better to the Debt Snowball method (dispatch the smallest balances first for quick wins and a psychological boost).
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
Abrahamson also made several money transfers and payments for unauthorized personal expenses, including to pay down credit card debt, read the indictment based on an IRS criminal investigation.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025
The president has also promised to use tariff revenue to pay down the ballooning national debt, currently worth about $38 trillion.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay down
Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Some people prefer the Debt Avalanche method (pay down debt with highest annual percentage rate, or APR, first); others respond better to the Debt Snowball method (dispatch the smallest balances first for quick wins and a psychological boost).
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
Abrahamson also made several money transfers and payments for unauthorized personal expenses, including to pay down credit card debt, read the indictment based on an IRS criminal investigation.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025
The president has also promised to use tariff revenue to pay down the ballooning national debt, currently worth about $38 trillion.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay down
Verb
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The bright side, Wang added, is that many forward-looking mills and suppliers have already invested in sustainable infrastructure, and their efforts are paying off in measurable energy, chemicals and water reductions.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
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The risk paid off, and no other NFL team claimed Pharms.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The crab rangoon added a satisfying crunch and works well as a sharable appetizer.—
Alexa Stone
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
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The great mystery is whether every solution — every single possible fluid history that satisfies the Navier-Stokes equations — makes sense everywhere and always.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20down. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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