overlain

verb

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlain
  1. overlapped
  2. coated
  3. covered
  4. overlaid
Verb
  • The roles overlapped, but Robb and the mayor’s office insisted there was a firewall between Robb and the mayor regarding the Lineage fire.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The duo also overlapped at Austria’s RB Salzburg — Glasner as assistant manager between 2012 and 2014, and Schlager as a player from 2016-19 after coming through their youth ranks.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of overlapped
Verb
  • Toss well, adding noodle water one splash at a time, until the sauce is creamy and everything is coated evenly.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Combine ham, turkey, cheese, and pickles in a large bowl; add dressing and mix until well coated.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of coated
Verb
  • This is a large, Art Deco covered market, built in the 1920s for an architectural competition.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Inside the Lasch Football Building, for example, there’s barely a wall not covered in some sort of a mural featuring a uniformed player, Nike swoosh proudly displayed.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of covered
Verb
  • The glasses then rendered that infrared in shades of red or a red-cyan mixture, overlaid on top of a normal field of visible light.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Galaxy Watch 9 ships with Wear OS 7 and Samsung’s One UI 9 interface overlaid on top.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

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 13 Aug. 2026.

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