payoff

American  

[pey-awf, -of] / ˈpeɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. the payment of a salary, debt, wager, etc.

2. the time at which such payment is made.

3. the consequence, outcome, or final sequence in a series of events, actions, or circumstances.

   The payoff was when they fired him.

   Synonyms:

   finale, upshot, climax

4. Informal. the climax of something, especially a story or joke.

5. a settlement or reckoning, as in retribution or reward.

6. Informal. a bribe.

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adjective

1. yielding results, especially rewarding or decisive results.

   The payoff play was the long pass into the end zone.

verb phrase

1. 1. to pay (someone) everything that is due that person, especially to do so and discharge from one's employ.

   2. to pay (a debt) in full.

   3. Informal. to bribe.

   4. to retaliate upon or punish; pay back.

   5. to result in success or failure.

      The risk paid off handsomely.

   6. Nautical. to fall off to leeward.

Etymology

Origin of payoff

First recorded in 1910–15; noun, adjective use of verb phrase pay off

Example Sentences

That type of divergence has piqued the interest of investors who question how to value AI’s ultimate payoff or struggle to understand the financial arrangements underpinning massive infrastructure spending.

From The Wall Street Journal

Investors might not have to wait as long for a payoff.

From Barron's

The payoff is high, the vibes are generous, and it feeds a crowd beautifully.

From Salon

“Big dreams require big risk, and the timing of when the payoff might be for some of these ventures becomes critically important.”

From MarketWatch

That is a notable shift for two companies that have been in the relative doghouse with investors of late, given growing concern in the market about runaway AI spending and its eventual payoff.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consequence
• outcome
• payment
• reward
• settlement