intransitive if something that you do pays off, it brings you some benefit
All those weeks of studying will pay off when you take the exam.
Synonyms and related words
To be advantageous and yield benefits
pay off
pay
repay
2
transitive to give someone all the money that you have borrowed from them to buy something
Only another six months and the house will be paid off.
Synonyms and related words
To pay, or to not pay money you owe
amortise
amortize
clear
3
transitive to stop employing a worker and give them any money that they are owed
Over 1,000 workers will be paid off if this factorycloses.
Synonyms and related words
Forcing someone and being forced to leave a job
fire
lay off
retire
4
transitive to give someone money so that they will do something bad or dishonest for you
There were suspicions that officials had been paid off.
Synonyms and related words
Bribery and manipulation
be on the take
blackmail
bribe
4a
to give someone money so that they will not do something that will cause you problems, especially by telling people about something bad that you have done
They threatened to tellreporters about him unless he paid them off.
Synonyms and related words
Bribery and manipulation
be on the take
blackmail
bribe
pay off
phrasal verb
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
pay off
he/she/it
pays off
present participle
paying off
past tense
paid off
past participle
paid off
DEFINITIONS4
1
intransitive if something that you do pays off, it brings you some benefit
All those weeks of studying will pay off when you take the exam.
Synonyms and related words
To be advantageous and yield benefits
pay off
pay
be worth someone’s while
2
transitive to give someone money so that they will do something bad or dishonest for you
There were suspicions that officials had been paid off.
Synonyms and related words
Bribery and manipulation
be on the take
blackmail
bribe
2a
to give someone money so that they will not do something that will cause you problems, especially by telling people about something bad that you have done
They threatened to tellreporters about him unless he paid them off.
Synonyms and related words
Bribery and manipulation
be on the take
blackmail
bribe
3
transitive to give someone all the money that you have borrowed from them to buy something
Only another six months and the house will be paid off.
Synonyms and related words
To pay, or to not pay money you owe
amortize
clear
compound
4
transitive to stop employing a worker and give them any money that they are owed
Over 1,000 workers will be paid off if this factorycloses.