prepay
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- prepayable adjective
- prepayment noun
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.
If you think there would be funds left after she dies, then you can do things like prepay for her funeral and give gifts to family members.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 26, 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
Netflix may prepay the loans, or reduce or terminate the unutilized portion of the commitments, without penalty, but prepaid amounts may not be reborrowed, according to the filing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025
It costs just $10 per night, a fee campers prepay at the La Jolla/Ray Miller parking area.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2025
The twenty-four cents was required to prepay the single rate of postage on letters to England, and the thirty cents to prepay the single rate on letters to Germany.
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.
