overpay

verb

over·​pay ˌō-vər-ˈpā How to pronounce overpay (audio)
overpaid ˌō-vər-ˈpād How to pronounce overpay (audio) ; overpaying

transitive + intransitive

: to pay too much to someone or for something
… the debate over whether organic foods are a smart choice for healthier living or a marketing tool that gulls people into overpaying.—Kenneth Chang
It took my husband and me an hour with a representative to figure out we were overpaying for insurance and unlimited data plans.—Tanisha A. Sykes
Be careful not to overpay state taxes.—Carl T. Hall
We are not overpaying people; we are paying people what the market demands.—Renee Glover
overpaid adjective
… fuels the negative stereotype of the overpaid underworked bureaucrat. —Joann S. Lublin

Examples of overpay 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 buyer who will overpay for your business really is hiding in plain sight. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 When that tax money did come through from the county, some districts were overpaid or underpaid. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026 The Nets aren’t one center away from contention, so overpaying for one would be dangerous. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026 Obviously strawberries and cream, too, but not the strawberries the masses overpay for. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for overpay

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overpay was in 1664

Rhymes for overpay

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Browse Nearby Words

overpast
overpay
overpayment
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Cite this Entry

“Overpay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpay. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overpay

Nglish: Translation of overpay for Spanish Speakers

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