repay

verb

(ˌ)rē-ˈpā How to pronounce repay (audio)
Definition of repaynext
1
as in to reimburse
to make a return payment to I repaid my friend the $20 he had lent me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to pay
to make a return for how can we ever repay your kindness?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word repay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of repay are compensate, indemnify, pay, recompense, reimburse, remunerate, and satisfy. While all these words mean "to give money or its equivalent in return for something," repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

In what contexts can compensate take the place of repay?

In some situations, the words compensate and repay are roughly equivalent. However, compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

When is indemnify a more appropriate choice than repay?

Although the words indemnify and repay have much in common, indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

When can pay be used instead of repay?

While in some cases nearly identical to repay, pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

When would recompense be a good substitute for repay?

The synonyms recompense and repay are sometimes interchangeable, but recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

When is it sensible to use reimburse instead of repay?

The words reimburse and repay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

Where would remunerate be a reasonable alternative to repay?

While the synonyms remunerate and repay are close in meaning, remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

When might satisfy be a better fit than repay?

The meanings of satisfy and repay largely overlap; however, satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of repay The club has, however, repaid £106.7m to him over the past two seasons. —Sam Lee, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 The judge ordered them at the time to repay Carey’s legal bills incurred while defending the case, but will ultimately have to rule on the official request for repayment in the coming weeks. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025 With the completion, shareholder loans were repaid to News Corp, and News Corp received a 6 roughly percent stake in DAZN. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025 When asked if Rambo ever provided a reason for not repaying her, Patel said no. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for repay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repay
  1. reimburse
  2. pay
  3. reciprocate
  4. exchange
  5. satisfy
  6. compensate
  7. requite
Verb
  • Of the $16,000, Burns reimbursed the school for more than $7,000 and provided documentation for the rest after school officials met with Burns in late January about the audit’s findings.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The plans, which are privately run but reimbursed with taxpayer money, will see payments increase by 5.1 percent under a final Trump administration rule, for a total increase of about $30 billion.
    — Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of reimburse
Verb
  • Duncan agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to settle the lawsuit the same day prosecutors filed it, according to court records.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025
  • So McMahon and the Pullman community, who share her love for the church in Historical Pullman National Park, have banded together to pay the roughly $20,000 bill and reopen the church.
    — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of pay
Verb
  • The respect that courts must accord the Executive must be reciprocated by the Executive’s respect for the courts.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
  • But the grace Williams has shown hasn’t always been reciprocated.
    — Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of reciprocate
Verb
  • By establishing a common language for inter-agent interaction, A2A allows agents to securely exchange information, coordinate actions and collaborate dynamically without sharing memory or tools.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Her relationship with her husband Michael is more forward-facing, with the two often exchanging playful banter on the Him & Her podcast.
    — Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of exchange
Verb
  • Armed with billion-dollar domestic media rights deals, the three power countries have been under pressure to satisfy broadcasters wanting more marquee series.
    — Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Those details didn’t satisfy attorneys for Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy organization challenging the request.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • We don’t get compensated until something goes into production.
    — Lauren Coates, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Both Labor and the coalition pledged to directly intervene, if necessary, by exercising the power to acquire the lease and compensating Landbridge Group.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of compensate
Verb
  • Reflecting Lee’s turmoil as he’s tormented by heroin withdrawals and his not entirely requited affection for Allerton, the film is moody, and the sets reflect the interior landscapes of its characters.
    — Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2024
  • In the book, the main character falls in love with an android that only pretends to requite his feelings.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2023
Definition of requite

Browse Nearby Words

repatriations
repay
repaying
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Cite this Entry

“Repay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repay. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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