pay back
Settle a debt
To pay back is to return money owed or to reciprocate an action.
You pay back a loan by repaying the borrowed amount: I'll pay back every cent.
The phrase extends to revenge or retaliation—returning harm for harm: She swore she'd pay him back for the humiliation.
Payback as a noun is revenge or the return on an investment.
Retaliation for injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- avengePunish on behalf of
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
reprisal · get even · comeuppance · grudge · nemesis · score settling · karma · just deserts
Money returned after purchase
- compensateMake up for
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- indemnifyGuarantee against loss
recoup · recovery · settlement · expense · out-of-pocket · remunerate · square up · make whole
Return in kind
- thankfulFeeling gratitude expressed
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- return favorRepay a kindness received
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
generosity · goodwill · acknowledgment · recognition · indebtedness · grace · blessing · benevolence
vengeance
Retaliation for injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- avengePunish on behalf of
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
retaliation · reprisal · get even · comeuppance · grudge · nemesis · score settling · karma · just deserts · tit-for-tat
refund
Money returned after purchase
- compensateMake up for
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
indemnify · recoup · recovery · settlement · expense · out-of-pocket · remunerate · square up · make whole · cover costs
reciprocate
Return in kind
- thankfulFeeling gratitude expressed
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- return favorRepay a kindness received
kindness · generosity · goodwill · acknowledgment · recognition · indebtedness · grace · blessing · benevolence · mutual
loan
Borrowed money repaid later
installment · principal · mortgage · finance · default · amortization · arrears · overdue · lender · dues
clear
Without obstruction or fog
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- squareRhombus with right angles
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
liquidate · fulfill · resolve · satisfy · account · even up · zero out · close out · make good · honor
- phrasal verbspick up, look at, put down, turn on, turn off
- informal dealsbarter, swap, trade-in, handshake deal, side deal
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- fixesfix, repair, mend, correction, correct
pay backdefault
Preset standard option
renege · welch · stiff · welsh · walk away from
back, pay, payment, unpaid, paying, repay, repayment, repaid, payments