Synonyms of overlay

overlay

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈlā 

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

• coat
• cover
• sheet
• blanket
• carpet
• overlie
• wrap
• overspread
• envelop
• veil
• curtain
• circle
• encircle
• enclose
• mantle
• cloak
• shroud
• shawl
• swathe
• enshroud
• encompass
• clothe
• enrobe
• enswathe
• enwrap

2

as in to overlap

to lie over parts of one another

cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overlap
• overlie
• overspread
• lap
• shingle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of overlay

The tech giant has already banned filters that explicitly promote cosmetic surgery, such as those overlaying pre-surgery marker lines onto skin. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

The company says its system reasons through investor requirements, borrower context, guidelines, overlays, and related concepts before producing a decision path that can be reproduced and audited. — Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

The world was composed of 233 handmade puppets, overlaid with hundreds of thousands of replacement faces; 132 practical sets were built, which included 728 miniature trees representing 10 species specific to the Pacific Northwest. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

In his imagination these eruptive landscapes overlaid each other like palimpsests. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026