payback time

noun

: a time for punishment for something that was done in the past
You've ruined my life, and now it's payback time.

Examples of payback time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The payback time varied from 1.8 to 22.5 months, averaging at 5.3 months. Tom Norton, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024 Saturday night was payback time, with left-hander Alex Vesia throwing Treinen a life preserver after Treinen yielded a run, gave up two more singles and hit a batter and pushed his pitch count to 33 as the Dodgers moved perilously close to blowing a three-run lead in Game 2 of the World Series. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024 The midge provides food when the mosquito needs it, in exchange for a payback time that never comes. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Temperatures should rise to near 80. Sunday: Sunday will be payback time. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2023 Manufacturing and logistics must adopt robots to survive: FACT Although total cost of ownership is a popular yardstick used for purchasing capital equipment, payback time is more commonly used for automating basic (typically arduous) worker tasks. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Aug. 2014

Dictionary Entries Near payback time

Cite this Entry

“Payback time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payback%20time. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!