Standard Lemma guide

overcharge

noun · verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: OW1 V ER0 CH AA2 R JH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An excessive load or burden.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An excessive charge in an account.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any amount erroneously charged to a customer above the correct price for a product or service.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To charge (somebody) more money than the correct amount or to surpass a certain limit while charging a bill.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gouge

Antonyms: undercharge

5

verb

Meaning 5

To continue to charge (an electrical device) beyond its capacity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To charge (someone) with an inflated number or degree of legal charges (for example, charging them with a more serious crime than was committed); to upcharge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To charge or load too heavily; to burden; to oppress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To fill too full; to crowd.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

Examples

  • October 22, 1706, Alexander Pope, letter to Mr. Walsh Our language is naturally overcharged with consonants.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To exaggerate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

Examples

  • to overcharge a description

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hyperbolize, overstate, stretch, big up, cut it fat, exaggerate, overcharge, overdo, overemphasize, play up, three-sheet

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

a price that is too high

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: charge

Narrower terms: extortion

11

verb

Meaning 11

place too much a load on

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • don't overload the car

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overload, surcharge

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: load, lade, laden, load up

12

verb

Meaning 12

rip off; ask an unreasonable price

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: soak, surcharge, gazump, fleece, plume, pluck, rob, hook

Antonyms: undercharge

Broader terms: cheat, rip off, chisel

Narrower terms: extort, squeeze, rack, gouge, wring

History

Etymology

From Middle English overchargen, equivalent to over- + charge.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: претоварване (pretovarvane) — an excessive load or burden
  • Russian: перегру́зка (peregrúzka) — an excessive load or burden
  • Swedish: överbelastning — an excessive load or burden
  • Russian: завы́шенная цена́ (zavýšennaja cená) — an excessive charge in an account
  • Swedish: övertrassering — an excessive charge in an account
  • Bulgarian: претоварвам (pretovarvam) — to charge more than correct amount
  • Danish: overtrække — to charge more than correct amount
  • Finnish: kiskoa — to charge more than correct amount
  • French: surcharger — to charge more than correct amount
  • Greek: υπερχρεώνω (yperchreóno) — to charge more than correct amount
  • Hebrew: ביצע חיוב יתר (bitséa khiyúv yéter) — to charge more than correct amount
  • Hungarian: túlszámláz — to charge more than correct amount
  • Japanese: ふっかける (fukkakeru) — to charge more than correct amount
  • Latin: nimium exigō — to charge more than correct amount
  • Latin: nimiō vēndō — to charge more than correct amount
  • Norman: surchèrgi — to charge more than correct amount
  • Norwegian: ta for mye betalt — to charge more than correct amount
  • Portuguese: sobrecarregar — to charge more than correct amount
  • Romanian: supraîncărca — to charge more than correct amount
  • Russian: назнача́ть завы́шенную це́ну (naznačátʹ zavýšennuju cénu) — to charge more than correct amount
  • Spanish: cobrar de más — to charge more than correct amount
  • Swedish: övertrassera — to charge more than correct amount
  • Thai: คิดเงินเกิน — to charge more than correct amount
  • Turkish: fahiş fiyatla satmak — to charge more than correct amount
  • Bulgarian: презареждам (prezareždam) — to overcharge an electric device
  • French: survolter — to overcharge an electric device
  • Greek: υπερφορτίζω (yperfortízo) — to overcharge an electric device
  • Hungarian: túltölt — to overcharge an electric device
  • Russian: перегружа́ть (peregružátʹ) — to overcharge an electric device
  • Russian: перегрузи́ть (peregruzítʹ) — to overcharge an electric device