as in lapping
a partial covering of one thing by an adjoining member
the orthodontist will try to fix that overlap of two of your upper incisors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to overlie
to lie over parts of one another
the brochures on the display table should overlap but not so much that the titles are obscured
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of overlap
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
And even starting one and playing the other off the bench doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be considerable overlap, with an even split of the 48 minutes hardly the playing time expected for a duo each averaging over 30 minutes this season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The three-time Grammy winner has built a global following that extends far beyond music and already overlaps with luxury, fashion, and lifestyle brands.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlap
Noun
Neither film is expected to blink, which is surprising to box office watchers because there’s so much overlap in the target audience.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
And even starting one and playing the other off the bench doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be considerable overlap, with an even split of the 48 minutes hardly the playing time expected for a duo each averaging over 30 minutes this season.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
The remaining organizations fall into overlapping ideological categories.
—Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The three-time Grammy winner has built a global following that extends far beyond music and already overlaps with luxury, fashion, and lifestyle brands.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlap
Noun
-
From my perch on a sun lounger, Friendship Bay stretches out below me – the curve of the powdery sand beach, the impossible blue of the sea and the calming lapping of the waves against the shore.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
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As Amanyara’s resident wellness expert guided me through a sound healing session and harmonized the vibrations of a Tibetan singing bowl, the lapping of the ocean waves seemed to still.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The results are somewhat ambiguous as to how much ice may lurk unseen beneath layers of overlying ice-sparse material.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
18 Mar. 2026
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As Taylor Glacier slides downstream, the overlying ice mass compresses the subglacial channels, building up tremendous pressure.—
Simone Valesini,
Wired News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The sparkling Colorado River now laps at the Glen Canyon walls about 180 feet below, completely invisible from a dock that once floated atop the water.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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The sugar-white sand slopes into the bright blue waters, where swimmers relax in the gently lapping surf.—
Cailey Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During the Cold War, these tensions were overlaid by competing alignments.—
Rabia Akhtar,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
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Sometimes, images are blurred and overlaid as densely as the chaos of musical fragments and creaking sonic whatsits in Joseph Field Eccles and Nick Smyth’s own sound design.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlap. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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