overlie

verb

over·​lie ˌō-vər-ˈlī How to pronounce overlie (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to lie over or upon
2
: to cause the death of by lying upon

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 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 See All Example Sentences for overlie

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overlie was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlie. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

overlie

verb
over·​lie -ˈlī How to pronounce overlie (audio)
overlay -ˈlā How to pronounce overlie (audio) ; overlain -ˈlān How to pronounce overlie (audio) ; overlying -ˈlī-iŋ How to pronounce overlie (audio)
: to lie over or upon

Medical Definition

overlie

transitive verb
over·​lie ˌō-vər-ˈlī How to pronounce overlie (audio)
overlay -ˈlā How to pronounce overlie (audio) ; overlain -ˈlān How to pronounce overlie (audio) ; overlying -ˈlī-iŋ How to pronounce overlie (audio)
: to cause the death of by lying upon
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!