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overlies

verb

present tense third-person singular of overlie
1
as in overlaps
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 coats
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlies
  1. overlaps
  2. coats
  3. covers
Verb
  • Dumbphone conversion overlaps with a wider cultural push to spend less time online.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Its distribution in the lower Mississippi River valley overlaps with that of the central rat snake.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of overlaps
Verb
  • Cook, tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid a little at a time as needed, until sauce lightly coats pasta, about 2 minutes.
    — Carla Lalli Music, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Gradually whisk in chicken broth; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture coats the back of a spoon, 1 to 2 minutes.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of coats
Verb
  • The former ensures that the university covers the full tuition and fees for first-year, Pell-eligible students from Illinois.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Another covers regulated detection devices that only flag possible hypertension.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of covers
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.

Browse Nearby Words

overlie
overlies
overload
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Cite this Entry

“Overlies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlies. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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