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
  • Its range overlaps extensively with populated and agricultural regions across the country’s eastern and central areas.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The dogs have since become central to helping bears and people coexist in places like Lake Tahoe, where development increasingly overlaps with bear habitats.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of overlaps
Verb
  • Add the fresh corn, okra, and diced tomatoes, cooking until the tomatoes break down into a sauce that coats the tender vegetables.
    — Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Mediterranean sun, at its apex, burns as white as the signature paint that coats most Mykonian homes.
    — Nick Remsen, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of coats
Verb
  • One issue, Denker said, is the 220-plus manhole covers on the race circuit that had to be welded to ensure the race cars don't suck them off the road.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Jelly and the other goats were focused on the Japanese Knotweed, an invasive species, that covers the hillside.
    — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 6 Aug. 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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