overlap

verb

over·​lap ˌō-vər-ˈlap How to pronounce overlap (audio)
overlapped; overlapping; overlaps
Synonyms of overlapnext

transitive verb

1
: to extend over or past and cover a part of
The roof shingles overlap each other.
2
: to have something in common with
Baseball season overlaps the football season in September.

intransitive verb

1
: to occupy the same area in part
The two towns overlap.
2
: to have something in common
Some of their duties overlap.
overlap noun

Examples of overlap in a Sentence

The roof shingles overlap each other. Baseball season overlaps football season in September. Some of your duties overlap his.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some specific malware and IP addresses, including the one from Vladivostok, overlapped with infrastructure previously used by North Korean actors. Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026 Like most of Big Mistakes, this scene is noisy, jam-packed with fast cuts and overlapping dialogue and edited within an inch of its life. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026 The prosecutor also said the judge appropriately used his discretion to consider overlapping conduct, in line with guidelines set forth by the Sentencing Commission. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026 By carefully manipulating the laser configuration, the team brought pairs of atoms close enough for their quantum wavefunctions to overlap in space. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overlap

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overlap was in 1704

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlap. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

overlap

verb
over·​lap ˌō-vər-ˈlap How to pronounce overlap (audio)
1
: to lay or lie over (something) so as to partly cover
that piece overlaps the edge
2
: to have something in common
political and social interests that often overlap
3
: to occupy the same area in part
the photos overlap
overlap noun

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