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 Quantum Internet will not replace the classical Internet but augment it, overlaying quantum signals with classical bits.
—
Mallik Tatipamula, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Oct. 2025
Goldman is recommending adding downside hedges such as S & P 500 options overlays with drawdown probabilities at current levels.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
EagleEye’s heads-up display (HUD) overlays digital information directly onto the operator’s real-world view.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Another prominent shoe style was a platform knee-high boot which overlaid a lace-up shaft onto a base that looked like a towering pump, with a cut out leaving an open space in the back.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Mallik Tatipamula, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Oct. 2025
Goldman is recommending adding downside hedges such as S & P 500 options overlays with drawdown probabilities at current levels.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
EagleEye’s heads-up display (HUD) overlays digital information directly onto the operator’s real-world view.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
Another prominent shoe style was a platform knee-high boot which overlaid a lace-up shaft onto a base that looked like a towering pump, with a cut out leaving an open space in the back.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Your glass tabletops, windows, and mirrors may look worse after cleaning them thanks to the dull film coating their surface.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
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Dip the apple into the liquid candy and rotate it to coat evenly.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Chinese navy confirmed on Saturday that the country's most advanced aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian, will be homeported at a base in the contested South China Sea, where Beijing's territorial claims overlap with those of a number of other countries.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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These reviews were led by David Grossman, who overlapped with Gibb on BBC show Newsnight in the noughties and acted as an advisor to the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The $155,000 figure was within a range covered by insurance, and FBI investigators found that no individual donor funds were diverted before they were deposited into the Bright Futures Fund, Johnston wrote.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Place dough sheet on floured surface, and spread out using your hands to a 16x8-inch rectangle.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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The skies opened into sheeting rain as the minister gave his greeting; this was followed by thunder and an explosion of lightning.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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