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
The opportunity for payback comes with a matching platform and context.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
Intent on payback, Bernadine strips all of his clothing from the closet and begins tossing them into his BMW, power-walking between the closet and the vehicle in just a robe and a negligee, carting each load of belongings in a child’s wagon.
—Niela Orr, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, Jost and Johansson teamed up for payback during the May rendition of the joke swap segment.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
While 85% of organizations are increasing their AI investment, only 6% are seeing a payback in under a year.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payback
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Troy Renck, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
Intent on payback, Bernadine strips all of his clothing from the closet and begins tossing them into his BMW, power-walking between the closet and the vehicle in just a robe and a negligee, carting each load of belongings in a child’s wagon.
—Niela Orr, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, Jost and Johansson teamed up for payback during the May rendition of the joke swap segment.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025
While 85% of organizations are increasing their AI investment, only 6% are seeing a payback in under a year.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 18 Dec. 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 31 Dec. 2025.
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