1
b
2
: the act or occasion of receiving money or material gain especially as compensation or as a bribe
3
: the climax of an incident or enterprise
specifically
: the denouement of a narrative
4
: a decisive fact or factor resolving a situation or bringing about a definitive conclusion
paid off; paying off; pays off
1
a
: to pay (a debt or a creditor) in full
b
: to give all due wages to
especially
: to pay in full and discharge (an employee)
c
: bribe
2
: to inflict retribution on
3
: to allow (a thread or rope) to run off a spool or drum
: to yield returns
Synonyms
Examples of payoff in a Sentence
Noun
You'll have to work hard but there'll be a big payoff in the end.
We expected more of a payoff for all our hard work.
We made a lot of sacrifices with little payoff.
Several city officials have been accused of receiving payoffs from the company.
He lost his factory job but received a payoff and a pension.
Verb
I finally paid off the loan.
she paid off the security guard so that she could steal whatever she liked
Recent Examples on the Web
Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2024
After that payoff, Cenat kept the remaining $39,000 and drove to his home in Boynton Beach.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 2 July 2024
The pearls reflect light beautifully, meaning minimal effort for a look with a high, shimmery payoff.
—Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 28 June 2024
Until a speck of frost reaches a certain size, the cost of its interface overwhelms the payoff of energy released by the ice formed inside.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for payoff 
Noun
Such big, risky bets were viewed initially with skepticism, and to date the payoff has been a mixed bag.
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2024
After that payoff, Cenat kept the remaining $39,000 and drove to his home in Boynton Beach.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 2 July 2024
The pearls reflect light beautifully, meaning minimal effort for a look with a high, shimmery payoff.
—Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 28 June 2024
Until a speck of frost reaches a certain size, the cost of its interface overwhelms the payoff of energy released by the ice formed inside.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for payoff
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'payoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near payoff
Cite this Entry
“Payoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payoff. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
pay off
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: to pay (a debt or credit) in full
the loan was paid off
2
: bribe
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