overpay

[ oh-ver-pey ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·paid, o·ver·pay·ing.

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

   I received a credit after overpaying the bill.

2. to pay (a person) in excess.

overpay

/ ˌəʊvəˈpeɪ /

verb

1. to pay (someone) at too high a rate
2. to pay (someone) more than is due, as by an error

Other Words From

• o·ver·pay·ment [oh-ver-, pey, -m, uh, nt, oh, -ver-pey-m, uh, nt], noun
• uno·ver·paid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overpay¹

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

Example Sentences

The watchdog concluded in 2006 that the department overpaid one lender, Nelnet, $278 million from 2003 to 2005.

From Washington Post

Watchdog groups counter that nursing home owners can reap excessive profits from public funds by overpaying their own companies.

From Washington Post

He was accused of overpaying for all of them, but in retrospect they all look like bargains.

From Fortune

Investors are worried that AstraZeneca is overpaying for Alexion, offering a 45% premium to the Boston-based company’s current share price, valuing the company at more than 40 times its trailing 12-month earnings.

From Fortune

While the acquisition will help Salesforce take on Microsoft in the great battle for corporate customers, some will inevitably ask if the company overpaid.

From Fortune

Of course it's perfectly reasonable to try to make sure that you don't overpay and end up underwater.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, education is an investment in yourself, but there's no reason to overpay for the asset.

From The Daily Beast

But Lewis, according to White's memo, said he didn't overpay.

From The Daily Beast

He should have been fired already for his decision in 2008 to overpay for both Countrywide Financial and Merrill.

From The Daily Beast

It is not such a triumph to overpay by $3 billion on a $5 billion deal.

From The Daily Beast

The fact is, that it is almost necessary to overpay cabmen, and especially so if the "fare" be at all nervous.

From Project Gutenberg

I have been flourishing it about a great deal to pay, or rather overpay, gondoliers.

From Project Gutenberg

He binds Himself to repay and overpay all sacrifice in His service.

From Project Gutenberg

No American can overpay the debt of gratitude we all of us owe to the officers and enlisted men of the army and of the navy.

From Project Gutenberg

After all, immortality opens a large hope, that may overpay the most unspeakable bitterness of life.

From Project Gutenberg