1
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another
the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to coat
to form a layer over
there will be freezing rain tonight, so we can expect to find a thick layer of ice overlying the car windshield in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlie
This upward surge of water fractured the overlying ice sheet, creating new channels for the water to escape.
—
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 July 2025
That heat is left over from the planet’s formation and is sustained by radioactive decay and pressure from the overlying layers.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2025
Geologists have long suspected that Afar is underlain by a mantle plume, a pillar of upwelling hot material that is helping to drive apart the overlying crust.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
This finding indicates that the ecosystem was no longer being sustained by the nutrients from the hydrothermal system being released into the overlying ocean.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlie
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 July 2025
That heat is left over from the planet’s formation and is sustained by radioactive decay and pressure from the overlying layers.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2025
Geologists have long suspected that Afar is underlain by a mantle plume, a pillar of upwelling hot material that is helping to drive apart the overlying crust.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
This finding indicates that the ecosystem was no longer being sustained by the nutrients from the hydrothermal system being released into the overlying ocean.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlie
Verb
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The symptoms that social media users are describing might overlap with seasonal affective disorder, depersonalization or the long-term effects of past trauma, Fisher said.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The overlapping relationships between the three, heightened by external narratives in the press and online, fester in isolation, eventually exploding into tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sports Equipment While the dishwasher isn't ideal for cleaning baseball caps, uniforms, or equipment heavily-coated with mud, a trip through a dishwasher cycle is ideal to remove bacteria and odors from mouth guards and hard plastic shin guards.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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The outer layer of the capsule is made from gelatin coated with a layer of cellulose and either molybdenum or tungsten, which blocks any RF signal from being emitted.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On April 16, a week after that panicked text message from Banfield, Wynn floated another proposal to the bank, this time asking if the school could get a line of credit to cover expenses through the summer.—
Jennifer Palmer,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Jan. 2026
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The lush gardens are spread across about a dozen acres and feature a mix of styles, including a traditional Valencian space with Moorish influences, sprawling greenhouses, and pergolas covered in swaths of roses.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlie. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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