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

Amazon originally overpaid on its purchase of MGM in a deal orchestrated by then-MGM board chair Kevin Ulrich. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025

And the Canucks certainly can’t overpay for these intangibles. —Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

Not to the extent that the Knicks overpaid for Bridges last offseason but could be open to throwing in extra picks in pursuit of a deep playoff run. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025

Tax professionals can upload documents to its platform and receive tailored advice for specific client situations, enabling them to identify eligible deductions, avoid overpaying and remain compliant. —Ryan Lawler, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025

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