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
Hemmed in by urban development, panthers end up crossing roads that overlay their habitat, leading to an increase in vehicle strikes in the past two decades, McClatchy News reported.
—
Olivia Lloyd
updated July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Each also has its own bespoke artwork consisting of moody black and white pictures of Williams with her face and body overlaid with gold squiggles, halos, highlights and planets tied to the song’s titles.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025
Upload a video of yourself opening and closing a fridge with a water bottle on TikTok, overlay your stats using the trending sound.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 17 June 2025
That experience informed a two-story-tall scaffolding structure where 12 artists took turns live-painting, the latter’s work overlaying its predecessor’s.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Olivia Lloyd
updated July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Each also has its own bespoke artwork consisting of moody black and white pictures of Williams with her face and body overlaid with gold squiggles, halos, highlights and planets tied to the song’s titles.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025
Upload a video of yourself opening and closing a fridge with a water bottle on TikTok, overlay your stats using the trending sound.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 17 June 2025
That experience informed a two-story-tall scaffolding structure where 12 artists took turns live-painting, the latter’s work overlaying its predecessor’s.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Some dailies, for example, are coated with phospholipid, which is what cell membranes are made of.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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For a delicious, air fryer-friendly cheese recipe, try coating your cheese in breading.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The complaint also says the policy violates Graves' 14th Amendment rights to control her child's education in several instances, overlapping with their First Amendment argument.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
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In the space of 10 seconds, the triangle takes on four different forms, with overlapping and underlapping runs crucial in creating a one-vs-one for the player on the ball.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Funding: Backed by a $44 million Series B, Pano’s tech covers 12 GW of utility lines across the U.S. West and is proving essential for utilities and fire agencies looking to act faster and minimize damage as wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense.—
Marianne Lehnis,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Since March, noncitizen writers of the Stanford Daily have declined to cover pro-Palestinian protests and asked to remove previous articles on the topic, fearing that such reporting could jeopardize their legal immigration status, according to the lawsuit.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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