overlap

verb

over·​lap ˌō-vər-ˈlap How to pronounce overlap (audio)
overlapped; overlapping; overlaps

transitive verb

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.

intransitive verb

1
: to occupy the same area in part
The two towns overlap.
2
: to have something in common
Some of their duties overlap.
overlap noun

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Over the past decade, a movement has arisen that heavily overlaps with Trump’s base of supporters (but extends beyond it) to reexamine the costs and benefits of the staid institutions established in the early to mid 20th century. Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Some of these individual pieces naturally overlap with one another, while others are placed together very carefully by the show’s creator, Debora Cahn, so that all improbably feel like part of the same appealing whole. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 Also found were overlapping Vs — known as Marian marks as they’re believed by some to be a call for protection from the Virgin Mary — and a pentangle that was used to protect against evil. Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 Many of the state’s nearly 1,400 districts dedicated to roads and bridges have boundaries overlapping its 1,425 townships. Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overlap 

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overlap was in 1704

Dictionary Entries Near overlap

Cite this Entry

“Overlap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlap. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

overlap

verb
over·​lap ˌō-vər-ˈlap How to pronounce overlap (audio)
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
overlap noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overlap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!