prepay
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prepay
Explanation
When you cover the cost of something before you actually have it, you prepay. You'll have to prepay now for that new refrigerator — even though they won't deliver it for two months! You have to prepay for most things you purchase online or over the phone; your credit card is charged long before you can actually wear those new shoes or eat that takeout Thai food. Another way to prepay is to settle a bill early, before payment is due: "I'm going to prepay my rent through August." Pre- means "before," so whenever you pay beforehand, you prepay.
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.
Back in recessionary 2009, sales plunged as fewer people were willing to prepay for years of vacations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
The Internal Revenue Service treats these conversions as income because you are essentially choosing to prepay taxes on them.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
The agreement, unveiled earlier this month, allows Meta to prepay for nuclear energy that will power its data centers in the region.
From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026
It may not make sense to prepay a 3% mortgage when you can earn 5% on a certificate of deposit, for example.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2024
This stamp was issued to prepay the registration fee, but is often found in unsevered pairs upon California letters, and sometimes in triplets including the registration fee and a single postage to California.
From History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America by Tiffany, John Kerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
