pays off

verb

present tense third-person singular of pay off
1
as in pays
to give what is owed for I finally paid off the loan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pays off That's why saving money on some parts of your vacation without compromising on the overall quality of the trip definitely pays off. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 July 2026 Upon approval, the new lender pays off your existing loan and then assumes the remaining balance. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 July 2026 Thus, other states may be watching Kentucky and North Carolina to see if these moves to tax the prediction market companies pays off. — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Research suggests wildfire mitigation work pays off. — Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 Sometimes that strategy pays off. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026 Work with an agent who knows Charlotte Local expertise pays off in negotiation. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026 Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 8 May 2026 Until 2037 the effective rate will be closer to 28%, as the city pays off debts related to a separate, previous set of incentives. — Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays off
  1. pays
  2. bribes
  3. pays up
  4. has
  5. meets
  6. buys
  7. seduces
Verb
  • Each round pays a hosting fee that bolsters not only the F1 organization’s revenues, but also the prize money that goes to teams at the end of each year.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • Then there is one overriding factor in the current political climate — a GOP that pays fealty to a president with little support among residents in the state’s most populous counties.
    — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of pays
Verb
  • In one of the film’s most madcap and darkly comedic moments, Linda bribes her daughter with the promise of a pet hamster — who turns out to be a biter, desperate to escape its box.
    — Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of bribes
Verb
  • By contrast, Social Security pays up to $62,172 a year in 2026.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • Under current rules, each venue pays up to $15 million annually.
    — Christopher Damien, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Definition of pays up
Verb
  • The colony also has a population of New Zealand fur seals that laze around the rocks frequented by flocks of seabirds.
    — Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • This fight has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of has
Verb
  • Chadwick is a former pastor of Forest Hill, which meets at the Ballantyne YMCA for one of its branches.
    — Chase Jordan July 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • But there’s another option for travelers looking for a more intentional vacation where the ocean meets high-end service.
    — Megan duBois, Southern Living, 22 July 2026
Definition of meets
Verb
  • What the pedigree buys is credibility with the engineers who must trust the output.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The new rates apply to imports from countries that supply nearly everything the United States buys from abroad.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of buys
Verb
  • In the video, then-23-year-old Gugino plays a young woman who, after her rock star boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend, seduces an artist painting her portrait.
    — Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
  • With its winning trifecta of sandy beaches, boutique hotels, and unpretentious tavernas, the Greek island of Milos seduces couples, water lovers, and gastronomes alike.
    — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026
Definition of seduces

Browse Nearby Words

pays (for)
pays off
pays up
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Cite this Entry

“Pays off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays%20off. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pays off for Spanish Speakers

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