<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>the payment of a salary, debt, wager, etc.</li><li>the time at which such payment is made</li><li>the consequence, outcome, or final sequence in a series of events, actions, or circumstances: The payoff was when they fired him</li><li>Synonyms: finale, upshot, climax</li><li>Informal: the climax of something, especially a story or joke</li><li>a settlement or reckoning, as in retribution or reward</li><li>Informal: a bribe</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>yielding results, especially rewarding or decisive results: The payoff play was the long pass into the end zone</li></ul><p><strong>Verb Phrase</strong></p><ul><li>to pay (someone) everything that is due that person, especially to do so and discharge from one's employ</li><li>to pay (a debt) in full</li><li>Informal: to bribe</li><li>to retaliate upon or punish; pay back</li><li>to result in success or failure: The risk paid off handsomely</li><li>Nautical: to fall off to leeward</li></ul>