pay down

B1 neutral separable transitive

In simple words

to make a debt smaller by paying some of it

Literal meaning: to push the amount owed downward by paying

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

common

to reduce a debt or balance by paying part of it

"She is using her bonus to pay down her student loan."

Grammar: separable

Usage notes

Common with loans, mortgages, credit cards, and balances. Often used in financial advice.

debt loan mortgage balance credit card principal

Base

pay down

I/you/we/they

3rd person

pays down

he/she/it

Past simple

paid down

yesterday

Past participle

paid down

have + pp

-ing form

paying down

continuous

Try:

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reduce repay gradually cut down lower make payments on

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