over·lay
ˌō-vər-ˈlā 
overlaid
ˌō-vər-ˈlād
; overlaying
; overlaying
1
a
: to lay or spread over or across : superimpose
b
: to prepare an overlay for
2
over·lay
ˈō-vər-ˌlā
: a covering either permanent or temporary: such as
a
: an ornamental veneer
b
: a decorative and contrasting design or article placed on top of a plain one
c
: a transparent sheet containing graphic matter to be superimposed on another sheet
Examples of overlay in a Sentence
Verb
you should apply a coat of primer first, and then overlay it with two coats of paint
cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof
Noun
a silver ring with gold overlay
The wooden table has a marble overlay.
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
The computer system reads photographs of clay cuneiform tablets, then adjusts by computationally overlaying the images atop ones with similar features, and whose meaning is known.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Lively arrived to the red carpet while wearing a latex dress before shedding the short-sleeve overlay on the red carpet to reveal a corset and skirt.
—Wwd Staff, WWD, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
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Verb
Garments that didn’t rely on magnificent silhouettes were instead detailed in ornate beading, lined with feathers or overlaid with layers of lace.
—Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
The computer system reads photographs of clay cuneiform tablets, then adjusts by computationally overlaying the images atop ones with similar features, and whose meaning is known.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
Layered over traditional Chanel tweed styles, the sheer overlays gave the looks an avant-garde edge.
—Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Lively arrived to the red carpet while wearing a latex dress before shedding the short-sleeve overlay on the red carpet to reveal a corset and skirt.
—Wwd Staff, WWD, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlay. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overlay
1 of 2 verb
over·lay
ˌō-vər-ˈlā
overlaid
-ˈlād
; overlaying
; overlaying
1
: to lay or spread over or across
2
: overlie
overlay
2 of 2 noun
over·lay
ˈō-vər-ˌlā
: something (as a veneer on wood) that is overlaid
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