1
as in to overlap
to lie over parts of one another
the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor
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2
as in to coat
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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of overlie
As a result, the top few inches of soil or rock heat up rapidly over the course of a day, and in turn warm the overlying air.
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Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
Then Lewis and her colleagues work to develop solutions to preserve the caves without hindering construction, such as rerouting utilities around subterranean cavities or installing manholes in overlying sidewalks to maintain access.
—Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
The cameras pierced the artist’s overlying brushstrokes to reveal a sketch of an elegant and mysterious man wearing a bow tie and three rings and holding his chin.
—Fabio Pacucci, Scientific American, 27 June 2024
Our list of reasonable diagnoses was expanding and contracting, replaced with irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, gut motility issues, all overlying a stressed individual barely keeping it together.
—Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for overlie 
Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
Then Lewis and her colleagues work to develop solutions to preserve the caves without hindering construction, such as rerouting utilities around subterranean cavities or installing manholes in overlying sidewalks to maintain access.
—Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
The cameras pierced the artist’s overlying brushstrokes to reveal a sketch of an elegant and mysterious man wearing a bow tie and three rings and holding his chin.
—Fabio Pacucci, Scientific American, 27 June 2024
Our list of reasonable diagnoses was expanding and contracting, replaced with irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, gut motility issues, all overlying a stressed individual barely keeping it together.
—Eric Snoey, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for overlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlie
Verb
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Both are known for their overlapping habitats and diets, leading to inevitable clashes.Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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Another is that they are envisioned to operate in teams, so that multiple robots can explore the same area in overlapping directions, reducing errors in the observation data.Shigeyuki Hando, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Choose plain raisins: Raisins coated in chocolate, yogurt, or other flavorings contain significantly more calories and sugar than plain raisins.Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
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As Southern California continues to grapple with devastating wildfires, remnants of a massive winter storm will coat regions across the Mid-Atlantic with more snow before exiting Saturday morning.Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Although the inner-motivation stuff is well covered, those who admire Warren’s acumen within the music industry could wish the running time was just a little more padded, to cover some side angles that aren’t much addressed.Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025
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Elise Devlin is a content producer for The Athletic, covering sports leadership and personal development.Elise Devlin, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Overlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlie. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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