overlap
verb
over·lap
ˌō-vər-ˈlap 
overlapped; overlapping; overlaps
1
: to extend over or past and cover a part of
The roof shingles overlap each other.
2
: to have something in common with
Baseball season overlaps the football season in September.
1
: to occupy the same area in part
The two towns overlap.
2
: to have something in common
Some of their duties overlap.
Examples of overlap in a Sentence
The roof shingles overlap each other.
Baseball season overlaps football season in September.
Some of your duties overlap his.
Recent Examples on the Web
The film approaches its subject from three overlapping points of view, all climaxing in what appears to be the destruction of a major American city.
—
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Some fans griped that the writing of the new season hasn’t been as strong, with characters voicing too much overlapping exposition and bickering amid thick layers of special effects.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 2025
Iran has been a key player in several overlapping regional conflicts, with its recent airstrikes in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, and its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
With intention, overlapping income streams stabilize creative work rather than dilute it.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlap
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Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
Some fans griped that the writing of the new season hasn’t been as strong, with characters voicing too much overlapping exposition and bickering amid thick layers of special effects.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 2025
Iran has been a key player in several overlapping regional conflicts, with its recent airstrikes in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan, and its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
With intention, overlapping income streams stabilize creative work rather than dilute it.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlap
Cite this Entry
“Overlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlap. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overlap
verb
over·lap
ˌō-vər-ˈlap
1
: to lay or lie over (something) so as to partly cover
that piece overlaps the edge
2
: to have something in common
political and social interests that often overlap
3
: to occupy the same area in part
the photos overlap
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