Definition of COMPENSATE

compensate

Verb

  • adjust for
  • make amends for; pay compensation for
    • "She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident"
  • make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities
  • make reparations or amends for
  • do or give something to somebody in return
  • make payment to; compensate
  • To do (something good) after (something bad) happens
  • To pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration.
  • To make up for; to do something in place of something else; to correct, satisfy; to reach an agreement such that the scales are literally or (metaphorically) balanced; to equalize or make even.
  • To adjust or adapt to a change, often a harm or deprivation.

Examples

  • His loud voice cannot compensate for a lack of personality.
  • I don't like driving that old car because it always steers a little to the left so I'm forever compensating for that when I drive it. Trust me, it gets annoying real fast.
  • It is hard work, but they will compensate you well for it.
  • To compensate for his broken leg, Gary uses crutches.
  • To compensate me for his tree landing on my shed, my neighbor paved my driveway.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Latin compēnsātus, perfect passive participle of compensō (“to weight together one thing against another, balance, make good”), -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more.

Antonyms

wrong

Scrabble Score: 16

compensate: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
compensate: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
compensate: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

compensate: valid Words With Friends Word