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.
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 But borrowers taking loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration and guaranteed by the Veterans Administration still overpay, even though those agencies limit lenders’ pricing discretion. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Like LeVota, Tarwater is committed to some sort of refund to homeowners who allegedly overpaid during the 2023 property tax cycle. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 July 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overpay

Nglish: Translation of overpay for Spanish Speakers

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