overlie
verb
over·lie
ˌō-vər-ˈlī 
overlay
ˌō-vər-ˈlā
; overlain
ˌō-vər-ˈlān
; overlying
ˌō-vər-ˈlī-iŋ
; overlain
ˌō-vər-ˈlān
; overlying
ˌō-vər-ˈlī-iŋ
Examples of overlie in a Sentence
the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor
there will be freezing rain tonight, so we can expect to find a thick layer of ice overlying the car windshield in the morning
Recent Examples on the Web
The multi-element ICP values support the exploration model of the California zone being at the highest portion of a porphyry system, where an overlying high sulfidation zone has been eroded away.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024
Water in crust, in minerals, and in any sediments along for the ride is released in to the mantle of the overlying plate.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 July 2010
Such surface stasis should be impossible atop a truly ancient ocean because 100 million years or so is more than enough time for churning waters below to fracture and fragment the overlying icy crust.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024
Cadiz owned 35,000 acres overlying a desert aquifer.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024
The underlying geology imparts a signature on the overlying soils and then the plants that grow on those soils.
—Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024
So, subducting slab releases water as the slab goes down, this prompts melting in the overlying mantle and magmas rise into the overriding plate.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2010
Trumbo, Villanueva and their colleagues especially wanted to understand whether Europa’s surface CO2 deposits come from reservoirs of the compound dissolved in the dark waters of the subsurface ocean, which is sandwiched between overlying ice and the moon’s rocky center.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2023
That’s a very specific cause of cardiac arrest that occurs when there is blunt force trauma to the heart, or the chest wall that overlies the heart.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2023
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024
Water in crust, in minerals, and in any sediments along for the ride is released in to the mantle of the overlying plate.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 July 2010
Such surface stasis should be impossible atop a truly ancient ocean because 100 million years or so is more than enough time for churning waters below to fracture and fragment the overlying icy crust.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024
Cadiz owned 35,000 acres overlying a desert aquifer.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024
The underlying geology imparts a signature on the overlying soils and then the plants that grow on those soils.
—Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024
So, subducting slab releases water as the slab goes down, this prompts melting in the overlying mantle and magmas rise into the overriding plate.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2010
Trumbo, Villanueva and their colleagues especially wanted to understand whether Europa’s surface CO2 deposits come from reservoirs of the compound dissolved in the dark waters of the subsurface ocean, which is sandwiched between overlying ice and the moon’s rocky center.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2023
That’s a very specific cause of cardiac arrest that occurs when there is blunt force trauma to the heart, or the chest wall that overlies the heart.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overlie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of overlie was
in the 13th century
Dictionary Entries Near overlie
Cite this Entry
“Overlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlie. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Medical Definition
overlie
transitive verb
over·lie
ˌō-vər-ˈlī
: to cause the death of by lying upon
More from Merriam-Webster on overlie
Britannica English: Translation of overlie for Arabic Speakers
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