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.
Some who believe Kushner and Iger got caught up in the moment and overpaid point to the bidding war with Comcast for 21st Century Fox that Iger won for Disney in 2019. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Your first step should be to determine exactly how much was overpaid. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Small businesses overpay for software as a service because vendors count on their not tracking renewal dates, seat usage or competitive pricing. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 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 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

Rhymes for overpay

See All Rhymes for overpay

Browse Nearby Words

overpast
overpay
overpayment
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Cite this Entry

“Overpay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpay. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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