pay back

verb

1. to retaliate against

   to pay someone back for an insult

2. to give or do (something equivalent) in return for a favour, insult, etc

3. to repay (a loan)

noun

1. 1. the return on an investment

   2. Also called: payback period. the time taken for a project to cover its outlay

2. 1. something done in order to gain revenge

   2. ( as modifier )

      payback killings

Idioms and Phrases

Repay a debt or a loan, as in I'll pay you back next month .

Also, pay back in someone's own coin . Revenge oneself, repay in kind, as in He thought he could get away with copying my plans, but I'll pay him back in his own coin . This expression refers to repaying a debt in exactly the same currency in which the money had been lent. [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

Once the shutdown ends and workers receive back pay, employees need to pay back their unemployment benefits.

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The e-commerce giant will pay a $1 billion civil penalty, the largest in FTC history, and create a $1.5 billion fund to pay back to consumers, according to court documents.

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The company also vowed to pay back financing costs for those JLR suppliers who use the scheme during the restart phase.

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The council said on a case-by-case basis it sometimes gives people extra time to pay back their council tax, or helps them find ways to reduce their bill.

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Clearsprings and one other provider have said they will pay back some profits, above margins set out in the Home Office contracts, but the government has not clarified if this has happened.

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Related Words

• adjust 
• compensate 
• recoup 
• redeem 
• reimburse 
• relinquish 
• remit 
• repay