Repay: meaning, definitions and examples

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repay

 

[ rɪˈpeɪ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

financial

To pay back money that you owe to someone.

Synonyms

refund, reimburse, settle

Examples of usage

  • He promised to repay the loan by the end of the month.
  • She repaid the debt in monthly installments.
  • I will repay you as soon as I receive my salary.
Context #2 | Verb

general

To do something good for someone who has done something good for you.

Synonyms

acknowledge, reciprocate, return the favor

Examples of usage

  • He always repays kindness with kindness.
  • She repaid their hospitality by cooking them a delicious meal.
  • We should repay their generosity by helping them in return.

Translations

Translations of the word "repay" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reembolsar

🇮🇳 वापस चुकाना (vapas chukānā)

🇩🇪 zurückzahlen

🇮🇩 membayar kembali

🇺🇦 повертати борг

🇵🇱 spłacić

🇯🇵 返済する (へんさいする, hensai suru)

🇫🇷 rembourser

🇪🇸 reembolsar

🇹🇷 geri ödemek

🇰🇷 갚다 (gapda)

🇸🇦 سدد (saddad)

🇨🇿 splácet

🇸🇰 splácať

🇨🇳 偿还 (chánghuán)

🇸🇮 odplačati

🇮🇸 endurgreiða

🇰🇿 қайтару (qaytaru)

🇬🇪 დაბრუნება (dabruneba)

🇦🇿 geri ödəmək

🇲🇽 reembolsar

Etymology

The word 'repay' originated from the combination of 're-' meaning back and 'pay'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The concept of repaying debts has been an important aspect of human interactions throughout history, reflecting principles of reciprocity and fairness.

See also: nonpayer, nonpayment, pay, payable, payback, payee, payer, paymaster, payment, payments, payoff, payor, paywise, repayment, spay.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,723 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.