1
as in overlapping
to lie over parts of one another
the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in coating
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
as in overlaying
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlying
Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
Earth’s substantial atmosphere and geomagnetic field block most (but not all) of this bombardment, and the sunless interiors of worlds without these properties still get protection from overlying material.
—Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlying
Verb
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Meanwhile, Mazraoui’s overlapping run prevents Phil Foden from committing to Amad, who is left totally free.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Lockheed Martin describes this flexibility as central to the missile’s role in layered defense, where different platforms provide overlapping protection against a broad range of threats.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Applicators infiltrated cities across the nation, coating the chemical on street trees, parks and front lawns.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
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The balanced fruitiness and mild acidity cut through the richness, while a creamy, buttery mouthfeel provides richness and a mouth-coating texture.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Welcome to Path to Playoff, the USA TODAY Sports newsletter covering all things college football and the chase for this year's national championship.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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While the negative human-health effects of smoke from the Glass Fire have been well documented, the toxic brown blanket covering the Napa Valley is also devastating bee populations, said local beekeeper John Sevigny.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Other new features include Luma Key, a filter video based on brightness values that removes black backgrounds from input sources and is suitable for overlaying lower thirds, titles, logos and animations.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlying. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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