overlap 1 of 2

Definition of overlapnext
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

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overlap

2 of 2

verb

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overlap
Noun
The rotating menu draws heavily from seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms, with each dish highlighting the natural overlap between Indian and Mexican cuisines. Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026 Amazon offers five different ways to order fresh groceries, and while there is a lot of overlap, each option features a unique aspect that could be attractive depending on your shopping needs and preferences. Ryley Amond, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Verb
Sports fans have a lot to smile about in this latter part of the spring season, as the NBA and NHL finals are coming up and overlapping with the start of the World Cup — while the French Open unfolds and the MLB season is in full swing too. Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 28 May 2026 Cold swimming, sauna use, meditation and exercise can trigger similar adaptive responses through overlapping pathways. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for overlap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlap
Noun
  • The Wave percale sheets are guaranteed to lull you to sleep, like you’re being rocked by the gentle lapping of the ocean.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Soundings reached down more than 35 meters, roughly 1.75 times deeper than measurements taken on the crater floor or the overlying Delta units.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The windows in the treatment rooms offer floor-to-ceiling views of the lake and the soundtrack of water lapping up against old stone columns.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • For some, the appeal lies in the familiarity of measuring out liquid detergent, while others lap up the simplicity and convenience of the pods.
    Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • The veil of past and present, for example, takes an abstract turn in Altar I, while Todos los santos (Para subir al Cielo) shows a cemetery with various cross-shaped tombstones, with a ladder leaning on a wall spectrally overlaid on the image.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
  • And there is little in the way of informational graphics to overlay on match footage, like fans regularly encounter in other major North American sports coverage.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Overlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlap. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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