pay back (B1)
verb phrase
Pronunciation: /peɪ bæk/
Definition
To return money that you have borrowed, or to return a favor.
Examples
I'll pay you back the $20 I owe you tomorrow.
She felt she could never pay back her parents for all their support.
He promised to pay back the loan with interest.
How to Use pay back
- pay back money (collocation)
- To return money that was borrowed or owed. — "You need to pay back the money you borrowed by Friday."
- pay back a person (collocation)
- To return money or a favor to someone. — "I'll pay back my friend as soon as I get paid."
- pay back for something (prepositional phrase)
- To retaliate or seek revenge for something. — "He vowed to pay back for the humiliation he suffered."
Synonyms of pay back
Words with a similar meaning to pay back:
Antonyms of pay back
Words with the opposite meaning to pay back:
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