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
For many American families, the question is no longer about environmental preference or long-term payback math.
—
Vinesh Karthic Padmanabhan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Now, the payback period could be as short as two to three years.
—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
The payback test A key question underlying the lofty valuations of the hyperscalers and other AI companies is whether their capital spending plans reflect realistic revenue forecasts, according to economist Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
Infamously, the novelist Richard Ford spat on Whitehead at a party, as payback for a pan in the Times Book Review.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Vinesh Karthic Padmanabhan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Now, the payback period could be as short as two to three years.
—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
The payback test A key question underlying the lofty valuations of the hyperscalers and other AI companies is whether their capital spending plans reflect realistic revenue forecasts, according to economist Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
Infamously, the novelist Richard Ford spat on Whitehead at a party, as payback for a pan in the Times Book Review.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
Cite this Entry
“Payback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payback. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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