compensate

verb

SayKOM-puhn-sayt/ˈkɑm.pənˌseɪt/UK/ˈkɒm.pən.seɪt/AUSKOM-pen-sayt/ˈkɔm.penˌsæɪt/

Formscompensates, compensating, compensated

4 meanings of compensate

1
verbtransitive
To pay someone money for work they did or for something they gave you.
Like paying a friend back after they buy your lunch.
The company will compensate every worker for the extra hours.
They compensated her for the damage to her car.
Similarpay, reimburse, reward, remunerate, recompense
2
verbtransitive or intransitive
To make up for something missing or wrong by adding something else.
Like adding weight to one side of a scale so both sides become even.
Good lighting can compensate for a small window.
She compensated for her lack of height with great jumping skills.
Similaroffset, counterbalance, balance, counteract
Note
3
verbintransitive
To change the way you act to deal with a loss or problem.
Like leaning to one side to stay steady when a boat tilts.
Blind people often compensate by developing a sharper sense of hearing.
Her body compensated for the weak muscle by using nearby ones.
Similaradjust, adapt
Note
4
verbintransitive
To do something good to make up for something bad that happened.
Like giving a friend a gift to say sorry after you break their toy.
He cooked dinner to compensate for arriving late.
After the mistake, the store offered a discount to compensate.
Similaratone

Practice

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Origin

From Latin compensō, meaning to balance one thing against another or to make good.