1
as in overlapped
to lie over parts of one another
the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in coated
to form a layer over
there will be freezing rain tonight, so we can expect to find a thick layer of ice overlying the car windshield in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlain
Verb
-
The papers allege that his working hours at the school and with the city overlapped.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026 -
His tenure of just a few months overlapped with that of then-UCSD student Marc Geiger, who booked six rock shows shows that first season under the aegis of Marc Berman Concerts.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But this pork chop, coated in a fruity and smoky guajillo barbecue sauce and pooled with a sweet habanero butter sauce, made up for any feelings of neglect.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Eleven years later, Ajo resident Bill Eltzroth complained to the county and ADEQ that the facility’s operations coated his back porch in thick black dust.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Drawing Room extends into a calm outdoor courtyard fenced off by French doors and covered by a canopy of latticed vines.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Tax is based on the price of oil once Russian producers have covered their costs of around $15 per barrel, so a fall in the price can substantially reduce revenue to the government.—
David McHugh,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This footage is overlaid with rapidly shifting colors via video synthesizer, obscuring our view, and an iris that periodically frames the runner.—
Daniel R. Quiles,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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Especially for Deaf audiences for whom ASL is their first language, overlaid interpretation remains rare but can offer more nuance in context, emotion, and tone, address language deprivation, increase comprehension, and reduce cognitive overload and lags in information delivery.—
Abbey White,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Overlain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlain. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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