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.
Van der Sar, working as Ajax CEO, admitted that the Dutch side challenged United to overpay for the winger’s services in 2022. Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025 Analysts have criticized Pfizer for potentially overpaying for these recent acquisitions. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Stromberg said that in recent years, the national share of income tax returns that were overpaid and due either a refund check or future tax credit has been dropping, from 77% in 2017 to 70% in 2022. Jovi Dai, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025 Good quarterbacks are hard to find, and the spring portal window is when teams typically overpay for players at need positions. Antonio Morales, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Overpay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpay. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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