To repay means to give back money that you borrowed, or to return a favor or kindness that someone showed you. When you borrow five dollars from a friend to buy lunch, you repay them when you give those five dollars back. When your neighbor helps you find your lost dog, you might repay their kindness by mowing their lawn or baking them cookies.

The word works with money and with favors, help, or kindness. A country might repay a loan to another country over many years. You might repay your parents' support by working hard in school or helping around the house without being asked. Sometimes people talk about repaying someone's trust or confidence, meaning they prove worthy of it through their actions.

Repayment is the act of repaying, or the money being paid back. When someone takes out a loan for a car or house, they make monthly repayment installments until the full amount is returned.

The word carries a sense of obligation and fairness. When you repay something, you're balancing the scales and making things even again. It's about keeping your word and honoring what you owe, whether that's money or gratitude.