overlap
verb
over·lap
ˌō-vər-ˈlap 
overlapped; overlapping; overlaps
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.
1
: to occupy the same area in part
The two towns overlap.
2
: to have something in common
Some of their duties overlap.
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
An overlapping full-back who can whip over a hell of a cross.
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Still, Molina’s tenure overlaps with the council’s deadline to make transportation board appointments.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025
This pattern, called assortative mating, means that when parents with overlapping genetic risks have children, those risks can combine and accumulate.
—Santhosh Girirajan, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
Some of the commandments overlap with criminal law, such as prohibitions on murder and theft, but others do not.
—Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlap
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.
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Still, Molina’s tenure overlaps with the council’s deadline to make transportation board appointments.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025
This pattern, called assortative mating, means that when parents with overlapping genetic risks have children, those risks can combine and accumulate.
—Santhosh Girirajan, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
Some of the commandments overlap with criminal law, such as prohibitions on murder and theft, but others do not.
—Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlap
Cite this Entry
“Overlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlap. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overlap
verb
over·lap
ˌō-vər-ˈlap
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share