overpay

American  

[oh-ver-pey] / ˌoʊ vərˈpeɪ /

verb (used with object)

overpays, present (3rd person singular) overpaid, past participle, past overpaying present participle

1. to pay more than (an amount due).

   I received a credit after overpaying the bill.

2. to pay (a person) in excess.

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overpay British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay (someone) at too high a rate

2. to pay (someone) more than is due, as by an error

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unoverpaid
  adjective
• overpayment
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has overpaid
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is overpaying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have overpaid
  perfect
• have been overpaying
  perfect progressive
• has been overpaying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am overpaying
  progressive 1st person singular
• overpays
  singular 3rd person
• are overpaying
  progressive
• overpaying
  participle

Past

• had overpaid
  perfect
• had been overpaying
  perfect progressive
• was overpaying
  progressive singular
• were overpaying
  progressive plural
• overpaid
  participle
• overpaid
  simple

Future

• will overpay
  simple
• will have overpaid
  perfect
• will have been overpaying
  perfect progressive
• will be overpaying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of overpay

First recorded in 1595–1605; over- + pay ¹

Example Sentences

United know the 23-year-old's salary demands will be significant and they are reluctant to overpay.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

United are unwilling to overpay, or get drawn into protracted negotiations.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

“As a fund manager, you do not want to overpay for assets.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Discovery, the winning suitor will likely overpay and take on billions in debt, Barron’s Andrew Bary reports.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

My half is $200, and I’m relieved, because it means Babs didn’t overpay me when she fronted me the money the other day.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy