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

Herro on social media had cast Adebayo as a limited offensive player and therefore overpaid. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

That’s why the thought of moving starter Michael King, closer Mason Miller or southpaw Adrian Morejon shouldn’t be ignored if someone is willing to overpay for one of them. — Jim Bowden, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Nerves about whether investors were overpaying for AI and tech stocks were already resurfacing in recent weeks, and the announcement of new AI model that could rival the top US models adds to the anxiety. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

If anything, the women of the WNBA were previously overpaid, given that the league failed to turn a profit in its first 25 years of existence. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 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