Repay Definition, Examples, and Common Usage

Meaning 1：pay back (repay)

repay 🔊

/rɪˈpeɪ/

To give money back to someone you borrowed it from.

Repay money handoff between two people in a friendly setting

pay back 🔊

➕

/peɪ bæk/

To give back money that was borrowed from someone else.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：primary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Formed from prefix 're-' (back) and 'pay' (to give money), meaning to pay back.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: you 're-pay' by paying again what you borrowed.

📖 Example

After landing my first job, I saved up to repay my best friend the money I borrowed for textbooks last year. 🔊 After landing my first job, I saved up to repay my best friend the money I borrowed for textbooks last year.

🔗 Collocations

repay a loan – to pay back borrowed money from a bank

repay a debt – to return borrowed money

repay someone for something – to compensate someone for their help or expense

🔄 Synonyms

reimburse (v.) – to pay back money spent by someone else, often by an employer or organization

refund (v.) – to give back money that a customer has paid for a product or service

return (v.) – to give something back, especially money

🚫 Antonyms

borrow (v.) – to take money from someone with the intention of returning it

lend (v.) – to give money to someone who will return it later

🌱 Derivatives

repayment (n.) – the act of paying back borrowed money

repayable (adj.) – that must be paid back

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Old French 'repaiier' and Latin 'repacare', combining 're-' (back) and 'pacare' (to pacify or settle a debt).