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

Until our regulatory framework demands that alignment, Marylanders will be overpaying for power so that corporate shareholder profit targets are achieved. —Michael Richard, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026

They are vastly overpaid when compared to the work of TSA agents. —Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth initially claimed that one Cincinnati day care, Youthland Academy Loveland, was overpaid by more than $2,900 but later revised that number down to just $855. —Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Mar. 2026

Given those and other variables, local property experts say the government didn’t egregiously overpay. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 24 Mar. 2026

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