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

Avoid overpaying at Universal Orlando Beyond specific discounts, here are a few more tips to help protect your budget before finalizing ticket purchases. — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026

The allegations centered on Cherfilus-McCormick’s receipt of millions of dollars from her family’s healthcare business after the state of Florida overpaid roughly $5 million in federal disaster relief funds. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026

Investors can admire the business and still overpay for the stock. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

That deal also shows that teams will have to overpay for right-handed power. — Jim Bowden, New York Times, 30 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