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# defray

verb (defray, defrays, defrayed, defraying)

«defray» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(formal) To pay some or all of the cost of something: «to defray the costs». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#m1)

### In the lessons

A formal, exam and business word, nearly always with «costs» or «expenses». In everyday life people say «help pay for» or «cover». In school letters: «A small charge will help defray the cost of the trip.» It tells you money is given to reduce what someone has to pay.

### Examples

- The bake sale helped defray the cost of the school trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#x1)
- (formal) The company will defray all travel expenses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#x2)
- Parents were asked for two pounds to defray the cost of the coach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#x3)
- Selling tickets helped defray the expenses of the play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#x4)
- (formal) A grant was awarded to defray the costs of research. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#x5)
- If they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the Neverland to defray expenses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/#x6)

### Note

Formal; almost always «defray the cost(s)/expenses». Past: «defrayed». In maths problems, if a club raises money to defray costs, subtract it from the total: costs of 500 minus 200 raised leaves 300 still to pay.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «defray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/defray/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«defray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defray.html) on Mova free.