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
The song overlays clips of Belly and Jeremiah cruising in the summer sun, kissing in the library, and slow dancing under purple lights.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
The floor-length frock was overlaid with a bewitching black and yellow patchwork print.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
The dark shadow overlaid on a starry background is known as the Circinus West molecular cloud.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Designers are playing with proportions and adding volume to the region with cage-like boning, padded interiors, and tulle overlays.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
The floor-length frock was overlaid with a bewitching black and yellow patchwork print.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
The dark shadow overlaid on a starry background is known as the Circinus West molecular cloud.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Designers are playing with proportions and adding volume to the region with cage-like boning, padded interiors, and tulle overlays.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Scherzinger’s face was contoured and coated in a warm bronzer to match the shimmery sunset shadow on her eyes.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
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Hold cake square over bowl of glaze and, using a small ladle or a serving spoon, ladle glaze all over cake square, making sure to coat all sides.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Several overlapping organizations are organizing the rallies, including Indivisible, a progressive group formed in 2016 I the wake of Trump's first election win, the American Civil Liberties Union, and 50501, a group formed earlier this year in response to President Trump's second administration.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2025
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Slowly run the brush attachment over the cushion in overlapping lines, lightly scrubbing away stains.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Assigned to cover the Pentagon for the conservative outlet One America News Network, Gabrielle Cuccia didn't pretend to be an unbiased reporter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2025
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Its 138 portfolio companies cover a couple dozen industries, including healthcare/pharmaceuticals, software, consumer services, and business services.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
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However, a more rounded spout may tend to drip or sheet out the liquid in a wider stream than expected.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Apr. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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