overlap

verb

over·​lap ˌō-vər-ˈlap 

overlapped; overlapping; overlaps

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

ˈō-vər-ˌlap 

noun

Synonyms

• overlie
• lap
• overlay

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

Considering the even larger percentage of voters who helped put President Trump in office, there must be at least some overlap between those who voted red and those now grappling with the consequences. —Lluvia Gaucin, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025

So to do this, McGinn required a right-back to overlap outside of him. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025

Place ribs, meat side up, in slow cooker, overlapping slightly if needed. —Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025

Sixteen overlapping feathers protrude from a rounded cork base that is usually covered in thin leather. —Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for overlap

• handicap
• thunderclap
• wiretap
• app
• cap
• chap
• clap
• crap
• flap
• frap
• gap
• hap

Kids 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

overlap

ˈō-vər-ˌlap 

noun