overlay

1 of 2

verb

over·​lay ˌō-vər-ˈlā 

overlaid ˌō-vər-ˈlād  ; overlaying

transitive verb

1

a

: to lay or spread over or across : superimpose

b

: to prepare an overlay for

2

: overlie sense 2

overlay

2 of 2

noun

over·​lay ˈō-vər-ˌlā 

: a covering either permanent or temporary: such as

a

: an ornamental veneer

b

: a decorative and contrasting design or article placed on top of a plain one

c

: a transparent sheet containing graphic matter to be superimposed on another sheet

Synonyms of overlay

Verb

• coat
• cover
• sheet

Examples of overlay in a Sentence

Verb

you should apply a coat of primer first, and then overlay it with two coats of paint

cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof

Noun

a silver ring with gold overlay

The wooden table has a marble overlay.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Before the system can accurately overlay information onto the road, each motorcycle must be calibrated and registered in the app's AR Vision Garage. — New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026

The first chart overlays Meta's daily price on its ratio to the S & P 500 (SPY) . — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2026

Noun

The Hotshot is made from duraleather and real pigskin suede overlays, and per usual, your recipient won’t have to struggle to put on their shoes, thanks to the no-tie laces and slip-in design. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 2 Nov. 2026

At Alphabet, cloud revenue beat expectations, but search ad revenue came in below forecasts, fueling investor worries that AI overlays are cannibalizing the company’s core business. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overlay

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

overlay

1 of 2 verb

over·​lay ˌō-vər-ˈlā 

overlaid -ˈlād  ; overlaying

1

: to lay or spread over or across

2

: overlie

overlay

2 of 2 noun

over·​lay ˈō-vər-ˌlā 

: something (as a veneer on wood) that is overlaid