Repay
/ˌriːˈpeɪ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo give back money that was borrowed or spent.
/ˌriːˈpeɪ/
To pay back (money that one has borrowed or spent).
She will repay the debt when she gets her paycheck.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend lends you money. To repay is like saying, 'I'll give you the money back that I borrowed!'
👶 For kids: To give back money that you borrowed.
More Examples
The company agreed to repay its shareholders.
He promised to repay the money with interest.
How It's Used
"He promised to repay the loan within a year."
"I will repay you for your kindness."
To give something (often a kind action) in return for something else.
/ˌriːˈpeɪ/
To do or give something in return for (something).
She repaid the favor by helping him with his project.
💡 Simply: If someone does something nice for you, you can repay them by doing something nice back. Like, if a friend helps you move, you can repay them by buying them dinner.
👶 For kids: To do something nice back when someone is nice to you.
More Examples
He felt obligated to repay her kindness.
The community repaid their support with volunteer work.
How It's Used
"He repaid their generosity with loyalty."
"I want to repay her for her help."
Idioms & expressions
repay in kind
To respond to someone's actions or treatment in a similar way; to reciprocate.
"If you treat others well, they will likely repay you in kind."
From Middle English repaien, from Old French repaier ('to pay again'), from re- ('again') + paier ('to pay').
Historically used in financial and reciprocal contexts, appearing frequently in literature discussing debts and social obligations.
Memory tip
Think of 're-' meaning again, so repay means to pay again.
Word Origin
"To pay back; to make payment."