1
as in to coat
to form a layer over
you should apply a coat of primer first, and then overlay it with two coats of paint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another
cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlay
These tools typically are used to listen to the interview questions and provide answers in a window overlaid on the video call.
—
ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
His image appeared overlaid with George Washington’s on a commemorative half-dollar coin to mark the nation’s sesquicentennial in 1926.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
During the Cold War, these tensions were overlaid by competing alignments.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for overlay
ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
His image appeared overlaid with George Washington’s on a commemorative half-dollar coin to mark the nation’s sesquicentennial in 1926.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
During the Cold War, these tensions were overlaid by competing alignments.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Lightly coat the exterior with olive oil.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Its weather-resistant powder coating withstands rain and other inclement weather.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some specific malware and IP addresses, including the one from Vladivostok, overlapped with infrastructure previously used by North Korean actors.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
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Like most of Big Mistakes, this scene is noisy, jam-packed with fast cuts and overlapping dialogue and edited within an inch of its life.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With Devin Williams unavailable after pitching two of the last three days, Luke Weaver covered the final four outs.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Intercut with mutilation shots and moments where his mouth or eyes morph to be covered by the stretchy skin are flashbacks to the handsome actor, face totally intact.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Reroll the dough sheets away from you into cylinders and loosely pinch them closed.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
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Save your time and check out the most popular coffee makers, electric toothbrushes, and sheets our readers are loving, just in time for gift-giving season.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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