1
as in to overlap
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 to coat
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlie
The rich volcanic soil overlying the limestone has been fertile for centuries.
—
Chi Varnado, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024
The rock slab located at the high school was also originally from the Callide Mine, which is an open-cut mine, meaning that the overlying rock is removed to get to the coal underneath, Romilio explained.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Land in San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City and Bay Farm Island in the San Francisco Bay Area was found to be subsiding at more than 0.4 inches per year, primarily due to sediment compaction—when loose particles are pressed together under the weight of overlying layers.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
This month, the researchers will return to Waesche, looking for more rocks that could confirm whether the loss of overlying ice caused Waesche to wake up.
—Bypaul Voosen, science.org, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for overlie
Chi Varnado, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024
The rock slab located at the high school was also originally from the Callide Mine, which is an open-cut mine, meaning that the overlying rock is removed to get to the coal underneath, Romilio explained.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Land in San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City and Bay Farm Island in the San Francisco Bay Area was found to be subsiding at more than 0.4 inches per year, primarily due to sediment compaction—when loose particles are pressed together under the weight of overlying layers.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
This month, the researchers will return to Waesche, looking for more rocks that could confirm whether the loss of overlying ice caused Waesche to wake up.
—Bypaul Voosen, science.org, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for overlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlie
Verb
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Their training schedule overlapped with Seth’s wrestling season and pursuit of a fourth state championship at Mount Carmel High School.—
Evan Crowell,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2025
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Join 14 others in the comments View Comments Some of the new search capabilities overlap with those available in Google’s Gemini assistant, potentially causing confusion among consumers.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Transfer to a large bowl coated with cooking spray.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
26 May 2025
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Sunflower seed shells are often coated in salt for taste and flavor, sometimes as much as 70 mg for every 1 ounce of seeds.14 The American Heart Association suggests consuming no more than 1,500 grams of sodium per day, although Dietary Guidelines allow for up to 2,300 milligrams per day.15 2.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Matt previously spent several years covering Palace matches for the South London Press and contributing to other publications as a freelance writer.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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The Charlotte Observer Chase Jordan is a business reporter for The Charlotte Observer, and has nearly a decade of experience covering news in North Carolina.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlie. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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