repay

[ri-pey]

verb (used with object)

repaid, repaying 

1. to pay back or refund, as money.

   Synonyms: indemnify, reimburse

2. to make return for.

   She repaid the compliment with a smile.

3. to make return to in any way.

   We can never repay you for your help.

   Synonyms: reward, requite

4. to return.

   to repay a visit.

verb (used without object)

repaid, repaying 

1. to make repayment or return.

repay

/ rɪˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay back (money) to (a person); refund or reimburse

2. to make a return for (something) by way of compensation

   to repay kindness

Other Word Forms

• repayable adjective
• repayment noun
• repayability noun
• nonrepayable adjective
• nonrepaying adjective
• unrepaid adjective
• unrepayable adjective
• well-repaid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repay¹

From the Middle French word repaier, dating back to 1520–30. See re-, pay ¹

Example Sentences

It’s painfully ironic that Oliphant could look at the world so hard, for so long, and be repaid with the slow loss of his eyesight, as Banowsky finds toward the end of the film.

From Salon

Known as "Robodebt", the scheme wrongly told welfare recipients they had been overpaid and demanded they repay these debts, which often never existed.

From BBC

Players were then encouraged to invest in property with a 40% tax rebate, that did not need to be repaid for 15 years.

From BBC

But Brown instead took the person’s money and used it for “maintaining his lifestyle and repaying prior victims ... in a Ponzi-like scheme,” prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

Beyond that, most energy suppliers offer hardship grants for people struggling to pay their bills and the government's Fuel Direct Scheme can help you repay energy debt.

From BBC

Related Words

• compensate 
• offset 
• pay back 
• refund 
• reimburse 
• restore 
• reward