overpay

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌoʊ.vɚˈpeɪ/ UK /ˌəʊ.vəˈpeɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #86506

Meanings

1

verb
to pay more than the required, reasonable, or fair amount for something or to someone

We overpay for electricity because the building's contract has not been reviewed in years.
2

verb
formal or dated: to compensate more than sufficiently for a cost, effort, or sacrifice

The value of the harvest would overpay the expense of draining the field.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to pay more than the... pay too muchovercompensateoverreward

2 verb · formal or dated: to... more than compensaterepay amply

Opposites

underpayundercompensate

Word family

Forms overpaidoverpays

Derived forms overpayeroverpayment

Related forms pay payment compensation wages price

Etymology

Formed from over-, 'excessively or beyond,' + pay. The ordinary sense refers to giving too much money. The older construction in which a benefit 'overpays' an expense extends the same idea to something that more than compensates for a cost.

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# overpay

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌoʊ.vɚˈpeɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌəʊ.vəˈpeɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 86506

## Meanings
1. to pay more than the required, reasonable, or fair amount for something or to someone
2. formal or dated: to compensate more than sufficiently for a cost, effort, or sacrifice

## Examples
- We overpay for electricity because the building's contract has not been reviewed in years.
- The value of the harvest would overpay the expense of draining the field.

## Synonyms
- pay too much
- overcompensate
- overreward
- more than compensate

## Antonyms
- underpay
- undercompensate

## Derived Forms
- overpayer
- overpayment

## Related Forms
- pay
- payment
- compensation
- wages
- price

## Etymology
Formed from over-, 'excessively or beyond,' + pay. The ordinary sense refers to giving too much money. The older construction in which a benefit 'overpays' an expense extends the same idea to something that more than compensates for a cost.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

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