Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of "repay"):
   • To have returned money that was borrowed: "repaid" means to have given back an amount of money that was lent.
   • To have rewarded or requited someone for a service or kindness: "repaid" means to have shown gratitude or returned a favour.
   • To have retaliated for an action: "repaid" can mean to have responded to a positive or negative action with a similar action.

Usage Examples

• Financial context:

  • He repaid the loan in full last month. (He returned all the borrowed money.)
  • The debt was finally repaid after years of saving. (The money owed was completely refunded.)

• Kindness or favour:

  • She repaid her friend's kindness by helping him move. (She returned the favour.)
  • Her generosity was repaid with heartfelt thanks. (Her kindness was acknowledged and returned.)

• Retaliation:

  • He repaid the insult with a sharp remark. (He responded to the insult in kind.)
  • The team repaid their defeat by winning the next match. (They responded to a loss with a victory.)

Advanced Usage

• "repaid in full": a phrase indicating that all borrowed money or debt has been completely settled.

  • The mortgage was repaid in full after twenty years. (The entire loan amount was returned.)

• "repaid with interest": used literally for financial repayment, or metaphorically for returning a favour or harm with greater intensity.

  • She repaid his betrayal with interest, exposing his secrets. (She retaliated more strongly than the original harm.)

Variants and Related Words

• Repay (verb, present tense): to give back money or return a favour.

  • I will repay you next week. (I will return the money soon.)

• Repayment (noun): the act of returning money or a favour.

  • The repayment schedule is monthly. (The plan for returning money is set monthly.)

• Repayable (adjective): able to be repaid.

  • The loan is repayable over five years. (The loan can be returned within five years.)

Synonyms

• Returned: gave back something (money or an action).

  • He returned the borrowed book. (He gave back the book.)

• Reimbursed: paid back money spent on someone's behalf.

  • The company reimbursed her travel expenses. (The company returned the money she spent.)

• Requited: returned a feeling or action, especially love or kindness.

  • His love was requited. (His love was returned.)

• Acknowledged: recognized and responded to a kindness.

  • Her efforts were acknowledged with a gift. (Her work was recognized and rewarded.)

Related Idioms

• "to be repaid in kind": to have a similar action or treatment returned.

  • His rudeness was repaid in kind by his colleagues. (His rude behaviour was returned with similar rudeness.)

• "to repay a debt of gratitude": to express thanks through action for past help.

  • She repaid her debt of gratitude by mentoring young students. (She showed thanks by helping others.)