repay
verb (used with object)
to pay back or refund, as money.
had been repaying
-
past perfect progressiveof repay.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
He had been repaying each $1,000 invested with $1,500 just 90 days later, but only by taking more money from newcomers or, as a judge later puts it, “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
He had had some problems making repayments in the past, but for the past few months had been repaying more than his minimum payment on time.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2013
To judge from the last accents of Akulina's voice she had been repaying Johann Schmidt with compound interest, now that the right was on her side, for the manner in which he had attacked her.
From A Cigarette-Maker's Romance by F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford
