1
: requital
2
: a return on an investment equal to the original capital outlay
also
: the period of time elapsed before an investment is recouped
Examples of payback in a Sentence
They beat our team last year, so we've got to beat them this year as payback.
we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup
Recent Examples on the Web
Clark allowed Bueckers to drop to the end of the first round but got a little payback by taking the final Husky, Gabby Williams, with her second reserve pick.
—
Zach Powell, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Consider tit-for-tat in biology or reputational payback games in politics.
Claude, for its part, leaned heavily into forgiveness.
—Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
That disaster funding comes through a reimbursement process that requires Tennessee to front the money needed for damage repairs and then seek federal payback.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Arvind and Fashion for Good are holding onto the hope that despite the economic tumult caused by geopolitical strife and exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s whipsawing tariffs, brands remain committed to their climate targets despite the high investment costs and the less tangible payback.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
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Zach Powell, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Consider tit-for-tat in biology or reputational payback games in politics.
Claude, for its part, leaned heavily into forgiveness.
—Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
That disaster funding comes through a reimbursement process that requires Tennessee to front the money needed for damage repairs and then seek federal payback.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Arvind and Fashion for Good are holding onto the hope that despite the economic tumult caused by geopolitical strife and exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s whipsawing tariffs, brands remain committed to their climate targets despite the high investment costs and the less tangible payback.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payback. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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