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# prepayment

noun (prepayment, prepayments)

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

## Everyday

1. (money) A prepayment is money you pay before you get something, instead of afterwards. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#m1)
2. It can also mean paying back part of a loan early, before it is due. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#m2)

### In the lessons

In money lessons, prepayment explains pay-as-you-go phones, prepayment gas and electricity meters (topped up with a card or key in the UK) and deposits for holidays. In maths, a prepayment is subtracted from the total cost to find what is left to pay. Phrases: "prepayment meter", "prepayment required".

### Examples

- Prepayment is required, so you must pay when you book. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x1)
- Our flat has a prepayment meter for the electricity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x2)
- Mum topped up the prepayment card at the shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x3)
- The trip costs £60; after a £20 prepayment we still owe £40. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x4)
- Some restaurants ask for a prepayment for big parties. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x5)
- Prepayment means you pay first and get the item later. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x6)
- My phone works on prepayment, so I buy credit before I use it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prepayment/#x7)

### Note

Countable or uncountable: "a prepayment of £20", "prepayment is required". Verb: prepay (prepaid). In maths, prepayment reduces the amount still owed: remaining = total − prepayment. A deposit is a kind of prepayment.

## On Mova

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