repay

American  

[ri-pey] / rɪˈpeɪ /

verb (used with object)

repaid, repaying

1. to pay back or refund, as money.

   Synonyms:

   indemnify, reimburse

2. to make return for.

   She repaid the compliment with a smile.

3. to make return to in any way.

   We can never repay you for your help.

   Synonyms:

   reward, requite

4. to return.

   to repay a visit.

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verb (used without object)

repaid, repaying

1. to make repayment or return.

repay British  

/ rɪˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay back (money) to (a person); refund or reimburse

2. to make a return for (something) by way of compensation

   to repay kindness

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Other Word Forms

• nonrepayable adjective
• nonrepaying adjective
• repayability noun
• repayable adjective
• repayment noun
• unrepaid adjective
• unrepayable adjective
• well-repaid adjective

Etymology

Origin of repay

From the Middle French word repaier, dating back to 1520–30. See re-, pay ¹

Example Sentences

“While these are precisely the students who will now be protected from excessive federal loans they could not repay, further steps should be considered to facilitate their access to advanced degrees.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

And families can struggle to repay the debt.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

The dispute comes as the government agreed to repay costs incurred by the local council for the same visit.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

FAT Brands also tapped cash meant to repay lenders to fund company expenses and recently sold stock in its Twin Peaks franchise without approval from the presiding bankruptcy court.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

I was coming to believe I had been sent here to repay that debt—my own, my father’s, and my grandfather’s, too.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• compensate
• offset
• pay back
• refund
• reimburse
• restore
• reward