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
Reed’s victims relished a chance at payback when the writer tried his hand at acting in the atrocious 1970 film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s novel Myra Breckinridge.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Brady brought payback and zingers to the Netflix 'Roast of Kevin Hart' in a surprise all-star appearance at the Kia Forum.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Microsoft highlights productivity gains and organizational change, but there isn’t a focus on tying AI adoption to margin improvement, cost reduction, or payback periods.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Piper Sandler said the anticipated payback could be a major tailwind for Nike, whose stock is down more than 30% this year.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for payback
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Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Brady brought payback and zingers to the Netflix 'Roast of Kevin Hart' in a surprise all-star appearance at the Kia Forum.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Microsoft highlights productivity gains and organizational change, but there isn’t a focus on tying AI adoption to margin improvement, cost reduction, or payback periods.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Piper Sandler said the anticipated payback could be a major tailwind for Nike, whose stock is down more than 30% this year.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 11 May 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 21 May. 2026.
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