- past tense form of superimpose.
- past participle of superimpose.
superimposed
Americanadjective
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being or relating to something that is placed over something else, usually characterized by some degree of transparency so that both the background and foreground objects are visible.
The title credits appeared over the dusky opening scene in superimposed white text.
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Geology. (of a stream or drainage system) having a course not adjusted to the structure of the rocks presently undergoing erosion but determined instead by a prior erosion cycle or by formerly overlying rocks or sediments.
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Botany. (of a plant part) growing one over another, but separately, as in layers.
The superimposed whorls of petals give these begonia blossoms a roselike appearance.
verb
Etymology
Origin of superimposed
First recorded in 1795–1805; superimpose + -ed 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Much like a person's left and right hands mirror one another but cannot be perfectly superimposed, many biological structures have a preferred orientation.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
A flash of superimposed text identifies them as “*Very certified*, extremely serious ballet experts.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
Chirality refers to objects that cannot be superimposed on their mirror images, like left and right hands.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026
East Londonderry MLA Hunter was targeted in a deepfake video four years ago, when her face was digitally superimposed on to the face of another person.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026
Suddenly, with great clarity, she saw another scene superimposed upon it: two laughing girls at a water fountain dressed in bright blue pants and cotton sweaters.
From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.