1
as in to coat
to form a layer over
you should apply a coat of primer first, and then overlay it with two coats of paint
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another
cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlay
Overall, the vibe is a mix of south Florida’s monied social scene overlaid with the power dynamics of an executive job fair.
—
Adriana Gomez Licon and Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Scenes in which ‘Greatest Day’ overlay the burgeoning romance between Mikey Madison’s titular character and Mark Eydelshteyn’s Ivan are some of the most prominent in the movie.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025
The groundwork is a light pencil sketch of the area’s streets and buildings, which Fassler has overlaid with dense textual commentaries.
—Mara Hoberman, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
The beers are also local, the nachos are big, and the background chat is often overlaid with live music.
—Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overlay 
Adriana Gomez Licon and Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Scenes in which ‘Greatest Day’ overlay the burgeoning romance between Mikey Madison’s titular character and Mark Eydelshteyn’s Ivan are some of the most prominent in the movie.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025
The groundwork is a light pencil sketch of the area’s streets and buildings, which Fassler has overlaid with dense textual commentaries.
—Mara Hoberman, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
The beers are also local, the nachos are big, and the background chat is often overlaid with live music.
—Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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When all of the shrimp are coated, place the baking sheet into the fridge and let the shrimp chill for 15 minutes.—
Katie Workman,
Twin Cities,
3 Feb. 2025
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In some cases, products that have plastic enclosures coated with flame retardants may be able to achieve similar fire ratings by replacing the plastic with less flammable metal.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Crafted over eight decades ago by master architect Richard Neutra, this site-specific Los Angeles residence consists of two overlapping stucco and redwood cubes deftly angled into the steeply sloping terrain.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2025
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Even in a single patient, multiple overlapping triggers may be in play.—
Jamie Ducharme,
TIME,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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To break down some of the best and worst of this year’s wacky deadline, The Athletic brought together three of its writers: James L. Edwards III, who covers the New York Knicks; Darnell Mayberry, who covers the Chicago Bulls; and Josh Robbins, who covers the Washington Wizards.—
J. Robbins, J. Edwards and D. Mayberry,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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The bottle was reportedly covered in blood and located a few feet from the Nissan, according to the warrant affidavit.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But Maduro’s numbers have been widely discredited by both domestic and international observers, based on both polling prior to the election and tally sheets the opposition was able to recover from voting machines before Maduro’s forces shut down the count.—
Rafael Bernal,
The Hill,
9 Jan. 2025
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Failure to confront and anticipate social and environmental issues and their consequences is being sheeted back to boards and executives.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes,
21 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near overlay
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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