overpay

verb

over·​pay ˌō-vər-ˈpā 

overpaid ˌō-vər-ˈpād  ; 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

Past Heat successes are often cited as reason the Heat shouldn’t be worried about overpaying for an aging star and should have no problem building a team around said star. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026

That information can make the difference between overpaying and traveling smart. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 June 2026

Colorado overpaid people nearly $100 million in unemployment benefits last year alone, and federal data shows the state has been largely unsuccessful in recouping that money. —Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

The Brewers know buyers typically overpay at the deadline. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpay

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway