: to be equivalent to : counterbalance : to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to <compensate the victims for their loss> a : to provide with means of counteracting variation b : to neutralize the effect of (variations) intransitive verb 1 : to supply an equivalent —used with for 2 : to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect <his enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill> 3 : to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological Related to COMPENSATE Synonyms: indemnify, recompense, recoup, remunerate, requite, satisfy