# repay

/ɹiˈpeɪ/ (US) · /ɹɪpˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/repay
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to pay back money

verb · CEFR B1

to give back money that you have borrowed from a person or a bank.

For teachers: to refund or pay back a debt or loan. Transitive, requiring a direct object representing the amount or the creditor.

- He promised to repay the loan in full by the end of the year.
- The borrower is legally obligated to repay the principal amount along with any accrued interest according to the agreed schedule.

Usage: Often used with 'loan', 'debt', or 'mortgage'.

### 2. to return a favour

verb · CEFR B2

to do something good for someone because they were kind or helpful to you in the past.

For teachers: to requite or reward a person for a service, kindness, or injury. Transitive, often taking the person as the object.

- I hope I can repay your kindness one day.
- She felt a strong desire to repay her mentor's guidance by achieving success in her own academic career.

Usage: Commonly collocates with 'kindness', 'generosity', or 'hospitality'.

### 3. to be worth the effort

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to be worth the time or work you put into something because the result is good.

For teachers: to yield a return or result that justifies the effort or attention expended.

- The beautiful view from the top of the mountain will repay your hard work.
- The historical documents are difficult to read, but they will repay careful study by providing unique insights into the period.

Teaching tip: This sense is more common in formal writing and literature than in everyday conversation.

### 4. to coat with tar again

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to cover a surface, like the bottom of a wooden boat, with tar or pitch for a second time.

For teachers: to apply a fresh coat of tar, pitch, or similar waterproof material to a surface, typically a ship's hull.

- The sailors had to repay the deck to keep the water out.
- Maintenance of the vintage vessel required the crew to periodically repay the seams with hot pitch to ensure it remained seaworthy.

Usage: Specific to nautical maintenance and traditional shipbuilding.

## Examples

- I will repay the loan next month.
- She promised to repay his kindness by helping him move into his new apartment this weekend.
- The government struggled to repay its international creditors after the sudden economic downturn reduced tax revenues and depleted the national reserves.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.