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
The gold selloff owes to overlapping factors, some experts said.
—
Max Zahn, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Gonzalez explained that butterfly wings come in a dazzling variety of colors and patterns, which is created by miniature, overlapping scales on their wings.
—Staff Report, Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
But although transphobia overlaps with homophobia, Charlesworth and Finkel argue that trans backlash is not the primary reason for rising anti-gay sentiment.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Working- and middle-class families watch their property taxes climb, fees increase and government units overlap like layers in a bureaucratic lasagna.
—Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlap
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Max Zahn, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Gonzalez explained that butterfly wings come in a dazzling variety of colors and patterns, which is created by miniature, overlapping scales on their wings.
—Staff Report, Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
But although transphobia overlaps with homophobia, Charlesworth and Finkel argue that trans backlash is not the primary reason for rising anti-gay sentiment.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Working- and middle-class families watch their property taxes climb, fees increase and government units overlap like layers in a bureaucratic lasagna.
—Andy Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
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 Mar. 2026.
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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