as in overlaying
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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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlying
K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026
However, those sea surface temperatures will be far warmer than the overlying air temperatures.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
The results are somewhat ambiguous as to how much ice may lurk unseen beneath layers of overlying ice-sparse material.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026
However, those sea surface temperatures will be far warmer than the overlying air temperatures.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlying
Verb
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Far from being a single unit, a family is a set of overlapping vectors, lines that cut across one another, making chaotic patterns, dense designs.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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That range spans about 370 parts-per-billion between the various estimates, with some overlapping with Fermilab’s experimental data and others, particularly from the older R-ratio methods, disagreeing with Fermilab’s data at greater than the 5-sigma threshold.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The inspector noticed an expired permit on the wall, a slime coating on the ice chute of the ice machine and disposable cups stored on the floor.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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In 2018, the team made an important leap forward by using spray coating to create layers of chitin and cellulose nanomaterials.—
J. Carson Meredith,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Combined, the payouts to the two Brooklyn exonerees — covering a collective 40-plus years behind bars — were less than what Chicago would end up paying for Sierra’s 22 years’ imprisonment.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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With the base loaded and one out, Los Alamitos popped up a bunt that third baseman Kimmie McDonnell snagged and alertly tossed to shortstop Mazzotti covering third base for an inning-ending double play.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As music played in the background, overlaying captions appeared on screen beside Bader, 30, who underwent bariatric surgery in December 2023.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
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Trying to tap the ice sheet, which covers 80 percent of Greenland, for minerals is unappealing, given that all the necessary supplies would need to be brought inland by helicopter and there are kilometers of ice overlaying parts of the rock.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlying. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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