Meaning & use
prepay
Last updated
UK/ˌpriːˈpeɪ/
US/ˌpriːˈpeɪ/
Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
To pay for something before you receive it or before it is due.
Grammar: Can take an object (prepay the bill) or be used without one (you can prepay online).
Patterns
- prepay for something
- prepay a bill
- prepay something
You can prepay for the hotel room to get a discount.
We prepaid the shipping costs.
If you prepay, you avoid lines at the counter.
Word forms
| third person singular | prepays |
|---|---|
| past tense | prepaid |
| past participle | prepaid |
| -ing form | prepaying |
Common combinations
- prepay a bill
- I prepaid the electricity bill for three months.
- prepay for something
- She prepaid for the concert tickets.
- prepaid card
- He bought a prepaid card for his phone.
- prepay online
- You can prepay online and skip the queue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pay in advance
- A phrase with the same meaning; 'prepay' is more concise and common in business contexts.
- settle
- Means to pay a debt completely, not necessarily before receiving something.
Opposites
pay laterpostpay
Word family
- prepayment noun
- The act of paying before receiving goods or services.
- prepaid adjective
- Paid for in advance.
Commonly confused: prepay or prepay vs. repay?
prepay vs prepay vs. repay
Prepay means pay before; repay means pay back money you owe.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'prepay' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Prepay' means pay before, so 'prepay the rent for next month' fits. Paying 'after' or 'by not paying' contradicts the meaning, and 'yesterday' clashes with future 'will'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prepay”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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