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

The Florida Democrat is facing 15 federal counts that accuse her of stealing funds that had been overpaid to her family's health care company, Trinity Healthcare Services, prosecutors claim. —Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025

Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly made a list of the top free agents who are most likely to be overpaid this offseason, and listed the Blue Jays as a potential suitor to sign New York Yankees closer Devin Williams. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

Meta shareholders sought at least $7 billion in damages, arguing directors wrongfully overpaid in the FTC deal to prevent Zuckerberg from digging into his own pocket to cover some of the financial hit to the company. —Todd Prussman, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025

What does Texas law say about overpaying faculty members? —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpay

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