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1
return moneyto give someone the money that you borrowed from them.
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2
get revengeto do something to someone because they did something bad to you first.
Spot the meaning
Which one is it?
Read the sentence, then pick the meaning that's in play.
All meanings, in depth
Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.
to give someone the money that you borrowed from them.
I’ll pay you back as soon as I get my salary.
A: Can you lend me $20 until Friday?
B: Sure, just pay me back when you can.
If I ever borrow money from a friend, I always make sure to pay them back quickly because I don’t want to damage our relationship.
Common mistake
✗I'll pay back you tomorrow.
✓I'll pay you back tomorrow.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'pay you back'.
Tell it apart
I paid him back the £20.
returned money owedI paid for his lunch.
covered the costUse 'pay back' when you return borrowed money, not when you return objects.Not the same as 'give back', which is for returning things, not money.
Often paired with
pay + back + money
2
B2pay sb back for sthspokeninformal
to do something to someone because they did something bad to you first.
She played a prank on me, so I paid her back by hiding her phone.
A: Why did you put salt in my coffee?
B: That’s for last week—you paid me back!
Sometimes, people feel the need to pay someone back if they’ve been treated unfairly, but I think it’s better to just move on.
Common mistake
✗I'll pay back him for that.
✓I'll pay him back for that.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'pay him back'.
Tell it apart
I'll pay him back for humiliating me.
get revengeI'll pay him back the £20.
return money owedThis sense is informal and often used in a joking or light way.Not about money—this is about getting even with someone.
Often paired with
pay + someone + back
Turn this into speaking practice
Practise one meaning at a time and save the ones you mix up for review.