English Reference

Phrasal verb

pay down

Definition

phrasal verb. to pay part of a debt so the total amount you owe gets smaller. You use this for loans, credit cards, or mortgages.

phrasal verb. to reduce the principal amount of a debt through payments. Transitive; frequently used in financial and macroeconomic contexts to describe the systematic reduction of a balance.

Examples

“I want to pay down my credit card balance this month.”

“After receiving her year-end bonus, Sarah decided to pay down her student loans rather than going on an expensive holiday.”

“The administration's primary fiscal strategy involves using the budget surplus to pay down the national debt and lower long-term interest rates.”

Examples

simple

“I want to pay down my credit card balance this month.”

contextual

“After receiving her year-end bonus, Sarah decided to pay down her student loans rather than going on an expensive holiday.”

complex

“The administration's primary fiscal strategy involves using the budget surplus to pay down the national debt and lower long-term interest rates.”

Usage

usually followed by a specific debt-related noun like 'loan', 'mortgage', or 'balance'.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'pay off', which implies the debt is completely eliminated, whereas 'pay down' focuses on the reduction of the total amount.

Pitfall

I need to pay down the new shoes I bought.

I need to pay for the new shoes I bought.

'Pay down' is strictly for reducing an existing debt balance, not for the initial purchase of goods.

Phrasal verb

Particles

down

Separability

optional

Pattern

pay + down + object

Synonyms

reducedecreasechip away atsettle part of

Antonyms

run upincreaseaccumulate

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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