repay

[ ri-pey ]
See synonyms for: repayrepaid on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),re·paid, re·pay·ing.
  1. to pay back or refund, as money.

  2. to make return for: She repaid the compliment with a smile.

  1. to make return to in any way: We can never repay you for your help.

  2. to return: to repay a visit.

verb (used without object),re·paid, re·pay·ing.
  1. to make repayment or return.

Origin of repay

1
From the Middle French word repaier, dating back to 1520–30. See re-, pay1

Other words for repay

Other words from repay

  • re·pay·a·ble, adjective
  • re·pay·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • re·pay·ment, noun
  • non·re·pay·a·ble, adjective
  • non·re·pay·ing, adjective
  • un·re·paid, adjective
  • un·re·pay·a·ble, adjective
  • well-re·paid, adjective

Words Nearby repay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use repay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for repay

repay

/ (rɪˈpeɪ) /


verb-pays, -paying or -paid
  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

Derived forms of repay

  • repayable, adjective
  • repayment, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012