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Definition of compensate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

compensate

verb
 
/ˈkɒmpenseɪt/
 
/ˈkɑːmpenseɪt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they compensate
 
/ˈkɒmpenseɪt/
 
/ˈkɑːmpenseɪt/
he / she / it compensates
 
/ˈkɒmpenseɪts/
 
/ˈkɑːmpenseɪts/
past simple compensated
 
/ˈkɒmpenseɪtɪd/
 
/ˈkɑːmpenseɪtɪd/
past participle compensated
 
/ˈkɒmpenseɪtɪd/
 
/ˈkɑːmpenseɪtɪd/
-ing form compensating
 
/ˈkɒmpenseɪtɪŋ/
 
/ˈkɑːmpenseɪtɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] compensate (for something) to provide something good to balance or reduce the bad effects of damage, loss, etc. synonym make up for
    • Nothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one.
    Extra Examples
    • His voice doesn't have much range but he compensates with clever lyrics.
    • The advantages of the plan more than compensate for the risks associated with it.
    • State-of-the-art appliances may be expensive, but to compensate they will be more energy-efficient and last longer.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • amply
    • fully
    • more than
    preposition
    • for
    • with
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] compensate (for something) to act in order to balance or correct something wrong or not normal synonym make up for
    • In the second experiment, the temperature was raised to compensate for this bias.
  3. [transitive] compensate somebody (for something) to pay somebody money because they have suffered some damage, loss, injury, etc.
    • Her lawyers say she should be compensated for the suffering she had been caused.
    Extra Examples
    • The rail company offered to compensate passengers for any inconvenience caused.
    • a fund to compensate victims of abuse
    • The company will compensate you for the losses you have suffered.
    • People whose health has suffered will be compensated in full.
    • I expect to be compensated financially.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • adequately
    • fairly
    • properly
    preposition
    • for
    See full entry
  4. Word Originmid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘counterbalance’): from Latin compensat- ‘weighed against’, from the verb compensare, from com- ‘together’ + pensare (frequentative of pendere ‘weigh’).
See compensate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee compensate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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