compensate

[ kom-puhn-seyt ]

/ ˈkɒm pənˌseɪt /

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See synonyms for: compensate / compensated / compensating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

to recompense for something: They gave him ten dollars to compensate him for his trouble.

to counterbalance; offset; be equivalent to: He compensated his homely appearance with great personal charm.

Mechanics. to counterbalance (a force or the like); adjust or construct so as to offset or counterbalance variations or produce equilibrium.

to change the gold content of (a monetary unit) to counterbalance price fluctuations and thereby stabilize its purchasing power.

verb (used without object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usually followed by for): His occasional courtesies did not compensate for his general rudeness.

Psychology. to develop or employ mechanisms of compensation.

OTHER WORDS FOR compensate

1 remunerate, reward, pay.

2 counterpoise, countervail.

5 atone.

See synonyms for compensate on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of compensate

First recorded in 1640–50, compensate is from the Latin word compēnsātus (past participle of compēnsāre to counterbalance, originally, to weigh together). See com-, pensive, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM compensate

com·pen·sat·ing·ly, adverbcom·pen·sa·tor, nounnon·com·pen·sat·ed, adjectivenon·com·pen·sat·ing, adjective

pre·com·pen·sate, verb (used with object), pre·com·pen·sat·ed, pre·com·pen·sat·ing.re·com·pen·sate, verb (used with object), re·com·pen·sat·ed, re·com·pen·sat·ing.sub·com·pen·sate, verb (used with object), sub·com·pen·sat·ed, sub·com·pen·sat·ing.un·com·pen·sat·ed, adjectiveun·com·pen·sat·ing, adjectivewell-com·pen·sat·ed, adjective

Words nearby compensate

compelled, compelling, compendious, compendium, compensable, compensate, compensated grade, compensated semiconductor, compensating balance, compensation, compensation culture

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use compensate in a sentence

People may engage in some pro-social behaviour that — perhaps unconsciously — allows them to compensate for their use of a MyPillow pillow.
MyPillow boycott: How a product can spark an identity crisis|Elizabeth Chang|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
In 2017, it eliminated the requirement for exonerees to win a gubernatorial pardon in order to get compensated, so long as they received a writ of innocence from a state prosecutor.
Maryland moves toward clear plan for paying people who were wrongly convicted|Ovetta Wiggins|February 10, 2021|Washington Post
The Terps outscored the Buckeyes 32-24 in the paint, which helped compensate for their poor shooting from deep.
Maryland misses a chance to boost its NCAA tournament hopes with a loss to No. 4 Ohio State|Emily Giambalvo|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
“I attend to my duties adequately and I’m compensated the same as other chiefs,” he said.
How the Police Bank Millions Through Their Union Contracts|by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press, and Agnes Chang, Jeff Kao and Agnel Philip, ProPublica|February 8, 2021|ProPublica

The 22 percent hospitality charge feels right, not just because our server has taken very good care of us, but because the pandemic has revealed inequities in the way restaurant workers are compensated.
Georgetown gains a little gem in Lutèce|Tom Sietsema|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
So filmmakers usually resort to a plot device to compensate for this absence.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This may turn out to be wrong; Republican victories in Iowa and/or Colorado could compensate for a loss here.
A Loss by Pat Roberts in Kansas? Actually, Not So Bizarre|Jeff Greenfield|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The money would have gone to compensate the victims, pay for future health screenings, and in some cases relocate households.
Pollution Is a Violent Crime—Prosecute It as Such|Jedediah Purdy|May 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But is the performer taking her art form too seriously, trying to compensate for something else that may be lacking?
The Return of Lady Gaga’s Outrageous Fashion|Erin Cunningham|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To her credit, following the ensuing criticism Sandberg reversed policy and announced they would compensate interns.
Sheryl Sandberg's Got a Bigger Problem Than Bossy-Gate|Keli Goff|March 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A great player can really sing on these with such a delightful effect as almost to compensate for the want of speech.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
In a dress, no outlay upon the material will compensate for a badly fitting garment.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
The way in which a watch is made to automatically compensate for temperature changes is interesting.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
However luxurious the apartment of the Place Vendome might be, it could not compensate for the loss of these marvels.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
Would the count surrender title to the damaged car to compensate for rail transportation?
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney

British Dictionary definitions for compensate

compensate

/ (ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪt) /

verb

to make amends to (someone), esp for loss or injury

(tr) to serve as compensation or damages for (injury, loss, etc)

to offset or counterbalance the effects of (a force, weight, movement, etc) so as to nullify the effects of an undesirable influence and produce equilibrium

(intr) to attempt to conceal or offset one's shortcomings by the exaggerated exhibition of qualities regarded as desirable

Derived forms of compensate

compensatory (ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtərɪ, kəmˈpɛnsətərɪ, -trɪ) or compensative (ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtɪv, kəmˈpɛnsə-), adjectivecompensator, noun

Word Origin for compensate

C17: from Latin compēnsāre, from pensāre, from pendere to weigh

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

compensate

OTHER WORDS FOR compensate

Origin of compensate

OTHER WORDS FROM compensate

Words nearby compensate

Words related to compensate

How to use compensate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for compensate

Derived forms of compensate

Word Origin for compensate