verb

compensate

KOM-puhn-sayt

verb

To pay someone money to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience.

"The airline compensated passengers for the cancelled flight."

"The company compensated her for the damaged equipment."

To make up for a weakness or problem by adjusting something else.

"He spoke louder to compensate for the noisy room."

How to Use Compensate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo balance something out — either by paying for a loss or by adjusting to offset a weakness.

Common pairings

compensate for fully compensate compensate victims

Word Forms

compensated past tense, compensate plural, compensated plural, compensates singular, compensate singular, compensated singular, compensatest singular, compensatedst singular, compensateth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The airline _____ passengers for the cancelled flight.

Etymology

From Latin compensare, "to weigh one thing against another," from com- ("together") plus pensare ("to weigh").

Synonyms

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reimburse offset acclimate accommodate accustom adapt accord amend appease atone equate expiate

Related Words

accord offset give upset agreement alter accommodate adapt

Rhymes for compensate

ate date rate mate fate gate hate pate late Nate Kate cate

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