The company had to sell its assets to pay off its debts.
The company had to sell its assets to pay off its debts.
English
pay off
Meaning: to bring benefit; to be successful
Listen to pronunciation
Show inflections Hide inflections
Verb inflections
| Form | Inflected form |
|---|---|
| Base | pay off |
| 3rd person singular present | pays off |
| Present participle | paying off |
| Past | paid off |
| Will future | will pay off |
| Going-to future | going to pay off |
| Imperative negative | don't pay off / do not pay off |
Example sentences
Hard work always pays off in the long run.
Hard work always pays off in the long run.
He lived his life by the simple maxim that hard work eventually pays off.
He lived his life by the simple maxim that hard work eventually pays off.
He was arrested on charges of bribery after trying to pay off the police officer.
He was arrested on charges of bribery after trying to pay off the police officer.
Usage Notes
Used when an effort or investment finally yields a good result. It can be used intransitively (something pays off) or transitively (to pay someone off, often meaning to bribe or pay a debt).
Sottaku
About Sottaku
Sottaku is an app for learning Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian with a strong focus on SRS. It includes automatic flashcard creation for hundreds of thousands of words, grammar breakdowns in example sentences, language-specific study packs where available, adaptive quizzes, mobile apps, a browser extension, and community features. Give it a try now! All learning content is free with no limits on flashcards or study time.
Sottaku is built to match the habits of successful learners. By using Sottaku, you will naturally learn in the most efficient way possible, as proven by countless success stories in the language learning community.
Free Forever
Access all grammar guides, quizzes, and flashcards without paying a cent. Quality education should be accessible to everyone.
Smart SRS System
Our flashcard system uses the FSRS algorithm (also used in Anki) to optimize your review schedule and maximize retention.
Comprehensive Content
From hanzi, kana, hangul, and European vocabulary basics to grammar and reading practice where available, we have lessons for every level. Practice with quizzes tailored to your skill.
Community Chat
Ask level-appropriate questions and get help from the community. Learn together with fellow learners across all 8 supported languages.