repay Definition
- 1pay back (money that is owed)
- 2do or give something as recompense for (a favor or kindness received)
Using repay: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "repay" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I need to repay my student loan.
Example
He repaid her kindness by helping her move.
Example
She repaid the favor by cooking dinner for him.
Example
I will repay you for your help.
repay Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for repay
Phrases with repay
Example
She was known to repay in kind anyone who crossed her.
respond to a compliment by giving one in return
Example
When he praised her work, she repaid the compliment by complimenting his work as well.
show appreciation for a favor or kindness received by doing something in return
Example
She felt she could never fully repay the debt of gratitude she owed her mentor.
Origins of repay
from Old French 'repayer', from 're-' (expressing repetition) + 'payer' (to pay)
Summary: repay in Brief
To 'repay' [rɪˈpeɪ] means to pay back money that is owed or do/give something in return for a favor or kindness received. Examples include 'I need to repay my student loan.' and 'She repaid the favor by cooking dinner for him.' Phrases like 'repay in kind' denote responding to a negative action with a similar one, while 'repay the debt of gratitude' refers to showing appreciation for a favor or kindness received.
