pay off

verb

1. tr, adverb to pay all that is due in wages, etc, and discharge from employment
2. tr, adverb to pay the complete amount of (a debt, bill, etc)
3. intr, adverb to turn out to be profitable, effective, etc

   the gamble paid off

4. tr, adverborintr, preposition to take revenge on (a person) or for (a wrong done)

   to pay someone off for an insult

5. informal.
   tr, adverb to give a bribe to
6. intr, adverb nautical (of a vessel) to make leeway

noun

1. the final settlement, esp in retribution

   the payoff came when the gang besieged the squealer's house

2. informal.
   the climax, consequence, or outcome of events, a story, etc, esp when unexpected or improbable
3. the final payment of a debt, salary, etc
4. the time of such a payment
5. informal.
   a bribe

Example Sentences

Whether the money pays off is hard to tell, but experts say it's about more than just getting consumers through the doors.

From BBC

The radio host conspiracist was ordered to liquidate that platform to pay off part of a massive defamation judgment against him for smearing the families of Sandy Hook school shooting victims repeatedly.

From Salon

Save the Student's comments come after figures were published which show that hundreds of thousands of people currently paying off their loans are eligible for a share of £184m in refunds.

From BBC

Whether it pays off may depend on whether Qatar, so long a reliable ally, decides to go along with it.

From BBC

Head coach Joe Schmidt admitted picking Suaalii is a gamble, and that it was one that might not pay off immediately.

From BBC

Related Words

• amount
• award
• cash
• deposit
• disbursement
• fee
• outlay
• pension
• premium
• refund
• reimbursement
• remittance
• reparation
• repayment
• restitution
• return
• reward
• royalty
• salary
• settlement