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
  • Historical and archaeological investigations showed the area overlapped with the site of the former Sacramento County Hospital cemetery, which operated from the 1880s to the 1920s, officials said.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • His videos Continentes, confetes (2023) and Encontro amoroso do círculo com o quadrado (2023) were shown in a room filled with colored paper that bounced across three white walls and geometric shapes that slowly overlapped each other, respectively.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of overlapped
Verb
  • Spoon the glaze on top of the salmon, and brush it so the top is evenly coated.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Then Petrie coated the skulls in paraffin for preservation and shipped them back to England.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of coated
Verb
  • Wigs can cost thousands of dollars and are often not covered by insurance.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • As for the stumps left behind, Federal Emergency Management Agency rules said that if a tree is more than 24 inches in diameter or is leaning more than 51%, it’s covered under FEMA reimbursement, Public Works Director Brad Baxter said.
    — Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of covered
Verb
  • But the 33-minute album is overlaid with sugary melodies that feel monochromatic.
    — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Her post included an extended caption along with various photos of Paul with additional messages overlaid onto them.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Sep. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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