overlain

verb

Definition of overlainnext
past participle of overlie
1
as in overlapped
to lie over parts of one another the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in coated
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlain
  1. coated
  2. covered
  3. overlaid
Verb
  • An open-pit vermiculite mine, which operated from 1963 to 1990, coated the area — and residents’ lungs — with needle-like asbestos fibers.
    Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Key components, including the escapement wheel and anchor, are coated in DiamonSil, a combination of silicon and synthetic diamond that improves durability and precision.
    Matthew Catellier, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Definition of coated
Verb
  • Physical evidence that ice sheets covered the interior of continents in warm equatorial regions had eluded scientists – until now.
    Liam Courtney-Davies, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
  • No significant changes in internal controls over financial reporting were noted during the period covered by the report.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Definition of covered
Verb
  • The royal was joined by Prince William and their kids in the montage shot in Norfolk in August, overlaid with audio.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
  • On a bright red background, purple and yellow triangles, overlaid with shadows of Barney’s omnipresent Field Emblem and a form like a twisted spinal cord, meet at a point, making a pattern like glass struck with a gunshot.
    Lillian Davies, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024
Definition of overlaid
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near overlain

overlaid

overlain

overlap

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Cite this Entry

“Overlain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlain. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overlain

Britannica English: Translation of overlain for Arabic Speakers

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