pay down

verb

paid down; paying down; pays down
Synonyms of pay downnext

transitive verb

: to reduce (a debt) by repaying in part

Examples of pay down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
She's also dreamed about paying down that future pool by listing it on Swimply. Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 3 July 2026 And the war that was fought in the backcountry would serve as a catalyst for the Revolutionary War when the British king decided to help pay down war debt by taxing the colonists. Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 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 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 See All Example Sentences for pay down

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pay down was in 1975

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Cite this Entry

“Pay down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20down. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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