pay down

verb

Definition of pay downnext
as in to pay off

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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 pay down Achieve, an affiliate of Freedom Debt Relief, offers debt consolidation loans and home equity lines of credit to help pay down debt. — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 26 June 2026 Reject lifestyle creep The first right move may be as simple as crafting (and sticking to) a new budget to avoid lifestyle creep, which happens when a person’s expenses rise with their salary, leaving little room to save or pay down debt. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 26 June 2026 Lamont, a fiscal moderate, has forced big surpluses to pay down Connecticut’s legacy pension debt, tens of billions amassed over 70 years prior to 2011. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026 The Mexican-American War had left Mexico in dire financial straits; to pay down its debts, the Mexican government agreed to sell about 30,000 square miles of land in Arizona south of the Gila River, and in New Mexico west of the Rio Grande, for $10 million (about $400 million today). — Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pay down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pay down
  1. pay off
  2. satisfy
Verb
  • The foundation helped raise more than $200,000 to pay off school lunch debt for students, gave out turkeys to families during the holidays and provided resources to those impacted by gun violence.
    — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
  • Before any spend is approved, the team defines what must be true (economics, clinical proof, productivity) to pay off.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of pay off
Verb
  • The pledge did not immediately satisfy hardline conservatives, who ground operations in the House to a halt last week.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • The problem is that, even though the product satisfies the need, the consumer didn't care.
    — David Mahbub, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of satisfy

Browse Nearby Words

pay dirts
pay down
pay envelope
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Cite this Entry

“Pay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pay%20down. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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