com ‧ pen ‧ sate AC /ˈkɒmpənseɪt $ ˈkɑːm-/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ compensate ; noun : ↑ compensation ; adjective : ↑ compensatory ]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of compensare , from compendere ; ⇨ ↑ compendium ]
1 . [intransitive] to replace or balance the effect of something bad:
Because my left eye is so weak, my right eye has to work harder to compensate.
compensate for
Her intelligence more than compensates for her lack of experience.
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In everyday English, people usually say make up for something rather than compensate for something:
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What she lacks in patience she makes up for in determination.
2 . [transitive] to pay someone money because they have suffered injury, loss, or damage:
the government’s promise to compensate victims of the flood
compensate somebody for something
The firm will compensate workers for their loss of earnings.