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 gold ring is composed of a mixed-cut octagonal sapphire which is overlaid with four rectangular-cut and one square-cut rubies.
—
Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
For that, organizers turn to the same technology used when Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya broke the two-hour-marathon barrier in 2019, overlaying data onto potential routes to find the optimal one.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Fears was one of the most vocal supporters of a $55 million general obligation bond approved by Independence voters last year, earmarked for rebuilding and overlaying streets around Independence.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
To do this, Schlatter overlaid the crowding composites tracked by Citi.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
For that, organizers turn to the same technology used when Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya broke the two-hour-marathon barrier in 2019, overlaying data onto potential routes to find the optimal one.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Fears was one of the most vocal supporters of a $55 million general obligation bond approved by Independence voters last year, earmarked for rebuilding and overlaying streets around Independence.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
To do this, Schlatter overlaid the crowding composites tracked by Citi.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Regions like Brittany and Bordeaux have their own distinctive baking traditions, with buttery treats that come shaped like bicycle wheels or coated in beeswax.—
Jen Rose Smith,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Both types benefit from careful timing and being coated with sauce, if desired, right after cooking.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The South Caucasus has become an arena of overlapping geoeconomic competition among the United States, Russia, China, and Iran.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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China claims almost all of the sea, including areas that overlap with exclusive economic zones from countries like the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, and has been building out structures on some shoals in recent years to bolster its claims.—
Joanna Ossinger,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The cameras on each phone had been covered with painter’s tape, which authorities believe was intended to prevent his surroundings from being recorded.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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The red leather booths and wooden bar date back to the early 20th century and the walls are covered in flags from American universities.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Both Bestor and architect Tim Barber, who counts Matt Duffer and Ramin Djawadi as clients, employ Densdeck Roof Boards and Densinglas sheeting, a fiberglass-matt gypsum panel considered sustainable because of its durability and recycled content, in their work.—
Abigail Stone,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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