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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In the South China Sea, where China and its neighbors assert overlapping sovereignty claims, SLOCs are vulnerable to conflict.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Global sustainability efforts risk fragmentation, with overlapping certifications and inconsistent standards.—
Sunny Tan,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How To Get Rid Of Grease Stains For really oily, greasy stains, start by coating them with a layer of cornstarch or baking soda to soak up some of the grease.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
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Our diamonds are a polycrystalline coating no more than a couple of micrometers thick.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Eleanor Pringle is an award-winning senior reporter at Fortune covering news, the economy, and personal finance.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Eco mode offers a gentle support for more everyday activities like walking or covering slight inclines, while Hyper definitely takes things up a notch for running or steeper climbs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Podlesí is notorious for its boring atmosphere, overlaying everything like a thick blanket.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
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Last year at Connect, Meta unveiled its Orion glasses, which are a prototype capable of overlaying complex 3D visuals onto the physical world.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlying. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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