1
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another
the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor
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2
as in to coat
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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlie
Then Lewis and her colleagues work to develop solutions to preserve the caves without hindering construction, such as rerouting utilities around subterranean cavities or installing manholes in overlying sidewalks to maintain access.
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Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
The cameras pierced the artist’s overlying brushstrokes to reveal a sketch of an elegant and mysterious man wearing a bow tie and three rings and holding his chin.
—Fabio Pacucci, Scientific American, 27 June 2024
Our list of reasonable diagnoses was expanding and contracting, replaced with irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, gut motility issues, all overlying a stressed individual barely keeping it together.
—Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that presents as red patches with overlying greasy, yellow scales.
—April Benshosan, Verywell Health, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for overlie 
Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
The cameras pierced the artist’s overlying brushstrokes to reveal a sketch of an elegant and mysterious man wearing a bow tie and three rings and holding his chin.
—Fabio Pacucci, Scientific American, 27 June 2024
Our list of reasonable diagnoses was expanding and contracting, replaced with irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, gut motility issues, all overlying a stressed individual barely keeping it together.
—Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that presents as red patches with overlying greasy, yellow scales.
—April Benshosan, Verywell Health, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for overlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlie
Verb
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According to the Pentagon's map, Chinese naval vessels made port calls at every country in the South China Sea this year, where Beijing's sovereign claims overlap with those of regional nations, including the Philippines, an American security ally, and Vietnam.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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Even his answering machine sounds bizarre — stripper music overlapping Henry Mancini.Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Generously coat the inside of a large bundt pan with softened butter. 2.Martin Sorge, Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024
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As wind blew air through a mesh coated with catalysts to extract nitrogen and hydrogen from water vapor, the device produced enough ammonia with a sufficiently high concentration for use as a hydroponic fertilizer – all without the need for additional electricity or radiation.New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sasha Hupka covers county government and elections for The Arizona Republic.Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024
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Last year, Santa Anita had a $6-million shortfall on purses that was covered by the track.John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Overlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlie. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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