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.

Origin of overpay

1
First recorded in 1595–1605; over- + pay1

Other words from overpay

  • o·ver·pay·ment [oh-ver-pey-muhnt, oh-ver-pey-muhnt], /ˌoʊ vərˈpeɪ mənt, ˈoʊ vərˌpeɪ mənt/, noun
  • un·o·ver·paid, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overpay in a sentence

  • And don't let us give way to the vulgar prejudice, that clergymen are an over-paid and luxurious body of men.

    The Book of Snobs | William Makepeace Thackeray
  • The holder of a document of ₱3½ or over paid also ₱1½ “Municipal Tax” in lieu of labour.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • The social status of the Actor is that of a well-fed, well-clothed, well-paid—perhaps over-paid—worker in a curious profession.

  • The most glaring instances of over-paid troops were the Rimington Scouts, who actually received 10s.

  • Miss Abingdon's large staff of servants, all elderly and all over-paid, combined with their mistress to welcome Miss Erskine back.

    Peter and Jane | S. (Sarah) Macnaughtan

British Dictionary definitions for overpay

overpay

/ (ˌəʊvəˈpeɪ) /


verb-pays, -paying or -paid
  1. to pay (someone) at too high a rate

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

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