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Synonyms

repay

American

[ri-pey] / rɪˈpeɪ /

verb (used with object)

to pay back or refund, as money.

Synonyms:

indemnify, reimburse
to make return for.

She repaid the compliment with a smile.
to make return to in any way.

We can never repay you for your help.

Synonyms:

reward, requite
to return.

to repay a visit.

verb (used without object)

to make repayment or return.

repay British

/ rɪˈpeɪ /

verb

to pay back (money) to (a person); refund or reimburse
to make a return for (something) by way of compensation

to repay kindness

"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

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Etymology

Origin of repay

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

Explanation

When you give someone money that you owe them, you repay them. A bank may loan you money to buy a new car, but you'll have to repay the money, plus interest. You might repay a bank loan, or repay your brother the dollar you borrowed last week. You can also repay things other than money: "How will I ever repay your kindness and support?" Repay comes from the French repaier, with its "back" prefix re- and payer, "to pay."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You could have anywhere from five to 30 years to repay a home-equity loan; again, you pay more interest over the longer term for a lump sum.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

The other concern — a big one — is that your relative is requiring you to sell your home after a year if you don’t repay the loan in that amount of time.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

The parent company he controls, Vedanta Resources, has in recent years relied on dividends from the Indian group to help it repay its debts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

Marshals to seize a company helicopter to help repay a separate loan of more than $10 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

With stagnant wages and booming consumption, the cash-strapped American masses had a virtually unlimited demand for loans but an uncertain ability to repay them.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023