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
The sound department actually played the music that would overlay the scene as Dockery acted.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
At its core, Caption with Intention is a novel captioning design system which aims to significantly augment several critical points of failure within traditional captioning by overlaying animation, color and variable typography to bring the text to life.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Real-time video feeds overlay critical data, including vehicle status, ammunition levels, and targeting information.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
The author overlays the bleak downtown’s empty storefronts, the rundown houses and harsh economics with the landscape’s sheer beauty.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
At its core, Caption with Intention is a novel captioning design system which aims to significantly augment several critical points of failure within traditional captioning by overlaying animation, color and variable typography to bring the text to life.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Real-time video feeds overlay critical data, including vehicle status, ammunition levels, and targeting information.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
The author overlays the bleak downtown’s empty storefronts, the rundown houses and harsh economics with the landscape’s sheer beauty.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Add chicken, and stir to coat in oil mixture.—
Sonal Dutt,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
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The cast-iron is further enhanced with an enamel coating that not only looks attractive, but also prevents food from sticking to the bottom.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a few areas, the trail overlaps with state bike paths, offering yet another way to explore.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Sep. 2025
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Their careers overlapped in San Francisco in the early 2000s, when Newsom was mayor and Harris was district attorney.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This Thursday’s episode of The Run-Through covers a lot of exciting ground.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
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The Athletic covered the matter in this piece soon after the window closed.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The flooding began with a heavy downpour that sent water sheeting off the hillsides and into creeks.—
Hatim Sharif,
The Conversation,
5 July 2025
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My partner’s speciality is pasta: the fresh, handmade kind, delicately sheeted and crimped into intricate shapes.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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