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.
Cramer said investors think Paramount is overpaying, meaning the roadblocks to completing the deal have actually helped the stock. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 Why is Walter fighting to keep the Dodgers Henson teamed with Times colleagues to write about Walter’s chances of hanging on to the Dodgers amid this federal probe and whether new owners Bob Iger and Josh Kushner overpaid for the Lakers. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 Whether Spurs have overpaid for Savio is a tricky question to answer, given there is no clear consensus on exactly how footballers should be valued. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Your first step should be to determine exactly how much was overpaid. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Aug. 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

See All Rhymes for overpay

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 4 Sep. 2026.

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