/ rɪˈpeɪ; NAmE / verb ( re·paid , re·paid / rɪˈpeɪd; NAmE /)
1.
repay sth (to sb) | repay (sb) (sth) to pay back the money that you have borrowed from sb :
[ vn ]
to repay a debt / loan / mortgage
When are you going to repay them?
I'll repay the money I owe them next week.
[ vnn ]
I fully intend to repay them the money that they lent me.
2.
[ vn ] repay sb (for sth) | repay sth (with sth) to give sth to sb or do sth for them in return for sth that they have done for you
SYN recompense :
How can I ever repay you for your generosity?
Their trust was repaid with fierce loyalty.
3.
[ vn ] ( BrE , formal ) if sth repays your attention, interest, study, etc., it is worth spending time to look at it, etc. :
The report repays careful reading.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French repaier .