payback time
noun
: a time for punishment for something that was done in the past
You've ruined my life, and now it's payback time.
Examples of payback time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The simple payback time for the high-cost comparison was less than 6 months and produced a 986% return if a product was simply made once a week.
—
Joshua Pearce,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2026
The good news is that for a utility, geothermal’s 10-year or 12-year payback time — or period in which the energy cost savings pay for the system — is very attractive, according to Magavi.
—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
The midge provides food when the mosquito needs it, in exchange for a payback time that never comes.
—
Carl Zimmer,
Discover Magazine,
11 Nov. 2019
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Joshua Pearce,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2026
The good news is that for a utility, geothermal’s 10-year or 12-year payback time — or period in which the energy cost savings pay for the system — is very attractive, according to Magavi.
—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
The midge provides food when the mosquito needs it, in exchange for a payback time that never comes.
—
Carl Zimmer,
Discover Magazine,
11 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Payback time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payback%20time. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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