defrayed; defraying; defrays
1
: to provide for the payment of : pay
sold advertising on the website to help defray the cost of running it
2
archaic
: to bear the expenses of (a person)
Examples of defray in a Sentence
This will defray the costs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Across the nation, lawmakers are trying out policies to defray costs or provide new forms of help.
—
Kat McGowan, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Instead of the usual $5,000 guarantee, SDSU paid Whittier an extra $2,500 to defray the additional costs of keeping players on campus during the semester break.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
In the months prior to the actor’s death, Finn’s friends launched a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family to help defray medical costs.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2025
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the huge financial burden for Jenna and her husband Matthew.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
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Kat McGowan, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Instead of the usual $5,000 guarantee, SDSU paid Whittier an extra $2,500 to defray the additional costs of keeping players on campus during the semester break.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
In the months prior to the actor’s death, Finn’s friends launched a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family to help defray medical costs.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2025
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the huge financial burden for Jenna and her husband Matthew.
—Josh Mankiewicz, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defray
Cite this Entry
“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defray. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defray
verb
de·fray
di-ˈfrā 
: to pay or provide for the payment of
more money to defray expenses
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