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.
If the studio is willing to overpay, there’s good reason to. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025 For all the wailing and finger-pointing when Stamkos was not re-signed last summer, the Lightning’s confidence and resolve to not overpay for a star in his twilight years may have set Tampa Bay on another path to postseason glory. John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2025 Many brands are overpaying for competitive mid-tier creators while missing deals on massive-scale or micro-influencers with underpriced reach. Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Those that fail to do so could continue to overpay for AI without seeing tangible results. Jabin Geevarghese George, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overpay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpay. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on overpay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!