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
Rather than going with the traditional Grand Wagoneer woodgrain, Jeep overlaid a topographical design that runs from the front to the rear fenders.
—
Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
These tools typically are used to listen to the interview questions and provide answers in a window overlaid on the video call.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
His image appeared overlaid with George Washington’s on a commemorative half-dollar coin to mark the nation’s sesquicentennial in 1926.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
During the Cold War, these tensions were overlaid by competing alignments.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
These tools typically are used to listen to the interview questions and provide answers in a window overlaid on the video call.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
His image appeared overlaid with George Washington’s on a commemorative half-dollar coin to mark the nation’s sesquicentennial in 1926.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
During the Cold War, these tensions were overlaid by competing alignments.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlay
Verb
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Lightly coated with oil and tossed occasionally in a searing hot skillet or wok, even tough beans turn silky, and ready to coat in a finishing blast of chiles.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
Crispy, minty and coated in chocolate, these addictive treats consistently remain the Girl Scouts’ bestseller.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His time at City overlapped with that of the west London club’s co-director of recruitment and talent, Joe Shields, who worked for the Etihad Stadium side from 2013 to 2022.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Specifically, nacre is composed of hexagonal crystals of aragonite, a kind of calcium carbonate that is also seen in limestone and that forms precisely into overlapping layers that resemble the brick-and-mortar structure of buildings.—
Caitlin Kennedy,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Uber One is included as a perk on select American Express travel credit cards, like the Amex Platinum, which offers up to $120 in annual statement credits to cover the full cost of a membership.—
Chris Dong,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both Bestor and architect Tim Barber, who counts Matt Duffer and Ramin Djawadi as clients, employ Densdeck Roof Boards and Densinglas sheeting, a fiberglass-matt gypsum panel considered sustainable because of its durability and recycled content, in their work.—
Abigail Stone,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
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Reroll the dough sheets away from you into cylinders and loosely pinch them closed.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlay. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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