overlaying 1 of 3

overlaying

2 of 3

noun

overlaying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of overlay
1
2
as in overlapping
to lie over parts of one another cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overlaying
Verb
The software offered to fix it, rendering a version with the left side lifted and overlaying the before and after so the subject could watch his own jawline move. Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 In Modrić and Haaland’s cases, some do this by overlaying bows and hearts on their images. ABC News, 11 July 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 As music played in the background, overlaying captions appeared on screen beside Bader, 30, who underwent bariatric surgery in December 2023. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026 Trying to tap the ice sheet, which covers 80 percent of Greenland, for minerals is unappealing, given that all the necessary supplies would need to be brought inland by helicopter and there are kilometers of ice overlaying parts of the rock. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026 In Texas, overlaying precincts with current and proposed maps shows how elections could unfold. Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlaying
Adjective
  • Chomsky’s influential criticism of behaviorist explanations of language helped turn scientific attention toward the mental processes underlying language acquisition and use.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, there are rising concerns about the potential cybersecurity risks posed by AI agents and their underlying foundation models, and the country faces a growing backlash against AI data centers and the companies that are building them.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Spray from top to bottom, coating the glass and screens evenly.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of assessing the particle only as a whole, researchers used instrumented indentation to examine the response of its individual coating layers.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Research has shown that long hours, additional shifts, and overlapping work tasks can shorten a project’s timeline—but only to a point.
    Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Before buying an extended warranty, check how much time and mileage remain on your manufacturer's warranty to avoid paying for overlapping coverage.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Both books combine new, headline-generating reporting with intel Wickersham has gathered over decades covering football.
    Aaron Reiss, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But since Harvey, then a senior at Oberlin College, was writing for the Oberlin Review, covering football was a rather tricky proposition.
    Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Any longer may damage your overlying skin and even give you frostbite.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • The local agricultural cooperative now struggles given the absence of irrigated agriculture in that area overlying the Ogallala.
    Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overlaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlaying. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster