verb
repay
ri-PAY/rɪˈpeɪ/
To return what is owed or received.
The man repays his friend the money he borrowed earlier.
Etymology
Pay originally involved pacifying or satisfying someone, later specifically satisfying a creditor. With 'back,' repay means returning money owed, and extends to giving something in return for a favor.
In context
do me the favor of hitting that subscribe button that is your way to repay me if you like this video
More examples
- We repay the loan in monthly installments.
- I hope to repay your kindness someday.
- She repaid their trust with betrayal.
Forms
repay · repays · repaid · repaying
repayment noun — The act of returning what is owed.
Similar words
- reimburse
- Specifically means paying people back for expenses they covered.
- refund
- Means returning money previously paid for something.
- reciprocate
- Emphasizes responding with a similar action or feeling.