1
as in pays
to give what is owed for
I finally paid off the loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Get their money’s worth – make sure their major-league-leading $350 million payroll pays off.
—
Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Dodgers’ lineup construction pays off As last October neared, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts rearranged his lineup.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Quick fixes rarely work—but a patient, consistent approach pays off.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The idea is that your hard work one night, pays off two-fold when leftovers can be easily turned into a second, different recipe, the next day.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
This shift requires discipline but pays off.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Patience pays off in this situation.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Cianfrance also spent years talking with the real Jeff Manchester from prison in the 15-minute intervals allowed in an effort to do justice to the story, and that level of research pays off.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
The band’s connection to Midwest emo from years past pays off in the album’s sincerity, especially in the moments that allow for stillness.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Dodgers’ lineup construction pays off As last October neared, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts rearranged his lineup.
—Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Quick fixes rarely work—but a patient, consistent approach pays off.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The idea is that your hard work one night, pays off two-fold when leftovers can be easily turned into a second, different recipe, the next day.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
This shift requires discipline but pays off.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Patience pays off in this situation.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Cianfrance also spent years talking with the real Jeff Manchester from prison in the 15-minute intervals allowed in an effort to do justice to the story, and that level of research pays off.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
The band’s connection to Midwest emo from years past pays off in the album’s sincerity, especially in the moments that allow for stillness.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pays off
Verb
-
The collection also pays tribute to the Belgian designer’s work for Y/Project, with various pieces in the collection—from boots through to prints—nodding to key archival designs.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The general fund also pays for parks, trash pickup, public works, code enforcement, and the county’s administrators and management staff, according to budget documents.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
-
In the most severe cases, the state pays up to $86,000 annually for a person’s home care, Reiskin said.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What promises to be a perfect week is complicated when Sabrina meets Ian Turner (Sherwood), a handsome British visitor, at the hotel bar.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Its January chapter, where Miguel is left by Marta and meets Olga, lasts 90 minutes.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Every company in the Fortune 500 Europe top 10 has roots from before the Second World War.—
Adam Gale,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Besides being one of the best ways to stay warm, puffer jackets are also unbelievably packable, much like this Eddie Bauer down jacket that has insulation for chilly days but can be folded or rolled to practically half its size.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Which means things could still get even more complicated if Paramount buys HBO Max before 2026, when Hollywood Arts makes its streaming debut.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Normington will appear in Episode 307 as Alaia Jade, a sensitive pop star who buys a convent in hopes of turning it into a recording studio.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pays off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pays%20off. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share