compensate

[ kom-puhn-seyt ]

/ ˈkɒm pənˌseɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR compensate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

to recompense for something: They gave him ten dollars to compensate him for his trouble.

to counterbalance; offset; be equivalent to: He compensated his homely appearance with great personal charm.

Mechanics. to counterbalance (a force or the like); adjust or construct so as to offset or counterbalance variations or produce equilibrium.

to change the gold content of (a monetary unit) to counterbalance price fluctuations and thereby stabilize its purchasing power.

verb (used without object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usually followed by for): His occasional courtesies did not compensate for his general rudeness.

Psychology. to develop or employ mechanisms of compensation.

Origin of compensate

First recorded in 1640–50, compensate is from the Latin word compēnsātus (past participle of compēnsāre to counterbalance, orig., to weigh together). See com-, pensive, -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR compensate

1 remunerate, reward, pay.

2 counterpoise, countervail.

5 atone.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR compensate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM compensate

com·pen·sat·ing·ly, adverb com·pen·sa·tor, noun non·com·pen·sat·ed, adjective non·com·pen·sat·ing, adjective

pre·com·pen·sate, verb (used with object), pre·com·pen·sat·ed, pre·com·pen·sat·ing. re·com·pen·sate, verb (used with object), re·com·pen·sat·ed, re·com·pen·sat·ing. sub·com·pen·sate, verb (used with object), sub·com·pen·sat·ed, sub·com·pen·sat·ing. un·com·pen·sat·ed, adjective un·com·pen·sat·ing, adjective well-com·pen·sat·ed, adjective

Words nearby compensate

compellation, compelling, compendious, compendium, compensable, compensate, compensated acidosis, compensated alkalosis, compensated grade, compensated semiconductor, compensating balance

Example sentences from the Web for compensate

So filmmakers usually resort to a plot device to compensate for this absence.

Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius? |Clive Irving |December 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
This may turn out to be wrong; Republican victories in Iowa and/or Colorado could compensate for a loss here.

A Loss by Pat Roberts in Kansas? Actually, Not So Bizarre |Jeff Greenfield |October 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The money would have gone to compensate the victims, pay for future health screenings, and in some cases relocate households.

Pollution Is a Violent Crime—Prosecute It as Such |Jedediah Purdy |May 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But is the performer taking her art form too seriously, trying to compensate for something else that may be lacking?

The Return of Lady Gaga’s Outrageous Fashion |Erin Cunningham |April 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

This would enable the company to diversify and compensate for losses in Europe by reaching East Asian markets.

New Concerns that Russia is Positioning Itself to Influence Israel's Natural Gas Policy |Allison Good |November 7, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
I have to understand that those whom I cannot compensate by money, I have to compensate by courtesy.

The Duke's Children |Anthony Trollope
Every one felt that he wanted to compensate his daughter by force of money for what he called her "loss of profit."

The Village Rector |Honore de Balzac
For these vices, the ardor of heroism united with love of country could not compensate.

Pamphlets On The Constitution Of The United States |Various
The differences are only tolerable because of the bond of agreement which is strong enough to compensate them.

The Criminal & the Community |James Devon
His mere pleasure could not compensate for the injury which such a proceeding must do him in public opinion.

Memoirs of the Empress Catherine II. |Catherine II, Empress of Russia

British Dictionary definitions for compensate

compensate

/ (ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪt) /

verb

to make amends to (someone), esp for loss or injury

(tr) to serve as compensation or damages for (injury, loss, etc)

to offset or counterbalance the effects of (a force, weight, movement, etc) so as to nullify the effects of an undesirable influence and produce equilibrium

(intr) to attempt to conceal or offset one's shortcomings by the exaggerated exhibition of qualities regarded as desirable

Derived forms of compensate

compensatory (ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtərɪ, kəmˈpɛnsətərɪ, -trɪ) or compensative (ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtɪv, kəmˈpɛnsə-), adjective compensator, noun

Word Origin for compensate

C17: from Latin compēnsāre, from pensāre, from pendere to weigh

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

compensate

verb (used with object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

verb (used without object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

Origin of compensate

SYNONYMS FOR compensate

OTHER WORDS FROM compensate

Words nearby compensate

Example sentences from the Web for compensate

British Dictionary definitions for compensate

verb

Derived forms of compensate

Word Origin for compensate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

compensate

verb (used with object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

verb (used without object), com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

Origin of compensate

SYNONYMS FOR compensate

OTHER WORDS FROM compensate

Words nearby compensate

Words related to compensate

Example sentences from the Web for compensate

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for compensate

verb

Derived forms of compensate

Word Origin for compensate

British Dictionary definitions for compensate