overlie

verb

over·​lie ˌō-vər-ˈlī 

overlay ˌō-vər-ˈlā  ; overlain ˌō-vər-ˈlān  ; overlying ˌō-vər-ˈlī-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to lie over or upon

2

: to cause the death of by lying upon

Synonyms

• lap
• overlap
• overlay
• overspread

Examples of overlie in a Sentence

the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor

there will be freezing rain tonight, so we can expect to find a thick layer of ice overlying the car windshield in the morning

Recent Examples on the Web

Planetary scientists count craters, for instance, the logic being that older features will be covered in more craters than younger features will, while younger features will overlie or cut across more pre-existing craters than older features do. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025

In turn, carbon dioxide ice in the bottom layer turns into gas, which builds up and eventually breaks through overlying ice up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) thick, according to a statement from ESA. —Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025

That’s relevant for digging through the Earth because when a hole is dug or drilled, the walls along the sides of the hole are under tremendous pressure from the overlying rock and also unstable because there’s empty space next to them. —Andrew Gase, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2024

When the stone near the surface can no longer support the weight of overlying soil or a roadbed, the ground collapses and a sinkhole appears. —Mary Ann Ashcraft, Baltimore Sun, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

overlie

verb

over·​lie -ˈlī 

overlay -ˈlā  ; overlain -ˈlān  ; overlying -ˈlī-iŋ 

: to lie over or upon

Medical Definition

overlie

transitive verb

over·​lie ˌō-vər-ˈlī 

overlay -ˈlā  ; overlain -ˈlān  ; overlying -ˈlī-iŋ 

: to cause the death of by lying upon