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

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

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