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
Unit 3 is currently undergoing the procedure, and Units 5, 7, and 8 will follow in overlapping outages until 2033.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Using a handheld steamer (a clothes steamer works fine), work in an overlapping pattern with the head of the steamer close to the fabric to cover every spot.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
The interlocking and overlapping pieces were first handblown and then meticulously cut to form before being collaged together.
—Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 24 Nov. 2025
As the holiday approaches, overlapping winter storm watches and advisories—spanning parts of Alaska, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York—raise the risk of widespread travel delays and hazardous conditions along both highways and at major airports.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlap
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Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Using a handheld steamer (a clothes steamer works fine), work in an overlapping pattern with the head of the steamer close to the fabric to cover every spot.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
The interlocking and overlapping pieces were first handblown and then meticulously cut to form before being collaged together.
—Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 24 Nov. 2025
As the holiday approaches, overlapping winter storm watches and advisories—spanning parts of Alaska, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York—raise the risk of widespread travel delays and hazardous conditions along both highways and at major airports.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 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 29 Nov. 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
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