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
  • The ceremony honoring the business leaders overlaps with the awarding this week, separately, of Nobel Prizes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • That process overlaps with a pathway involved in mood and pleasure, which is implicated in depression.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of overlaps
Verb
  • The rich, silky formula coats the lips with collagen-boosting peptides, Brazilian acai butter, and African mongongo butter to plump and lock in moisture, while lactic acid and hibiscus flower enzymes buff away dry, flaky texture.
    — Tasha Nicole Smith, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Also, if one coats the surface of a daguerreotype with a layer of gold, the colors shift more to the red side of the spectrum.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of coats
Verb
  • Radiant’s chief nuclear officer, Rita Baranwal, said the approval covers a broader demonstration than initial criticality alone.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The boundary, which covers nearly one third of the county, mostly east of the Econlockhatchee River, has drawn widespread support among Republicans and Democrats for decades.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2026.

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