overlap

American  

[oh-ver-lap, oh-ver-lap] / ˌoʊ vərˈlæp, ˈoʊ vərˌlæp /

verb (used with object)

• overlaps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• overlapped,
  past participle,  past
• overlapping
  present participle

1. to lap over (something else or each other); extend over and cover a part of; imbricate.

2. to cover and extend beyond (something else).

   The ends of cloth overlap the table.

3. to coincide in part with; have in common with.

   two lives that overlapped each other.

---

verb (used without object)

• overlaps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• overlapped,
  past participle,  past
• overlapping
  present participle

1. to lap over.

   two sales territories that overlap; fields of knowledge that overlap.

noun

• overlaps
  plural

1. an act or instance of overlapping.

2. the extent or amount of overlapping.

   The second story of the building has an overlap of ten feet.

3. an overlapping part.

4. the place of overlapping.

5. (in yacht racing) the position of two yachts side by side such that the overtaking boat, to pass the other on the opposite side, must fall back, or such that neither can turn toward the other without danger of collision.

overlap British  

verb

1. (of two things) to extend or lie partly over (each other)

2. to cover and extend beyond (something)

3. (intr) to coincide partly in time, subject, etc

---

noun

1. a part that overlaps or is overlapped

2. the amount, length, etc, overlapping

3. the act or fact of overlapping

4. a place of overlapping

5. geology the horizontal extension of the upper beds in a series of rock strata beyond the lower beds, usually caused by submergence of the land

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonoverlapping
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• overlaps
  plural

Participles

• overlapping
  present
• overlapped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• overlap
  simple
• overlaps
  simple
• have overlapped
  perfect
• has overlapped
  perfect
• am overlapping
  progressive
• are overlapping
  progressive
• is overlapping
  progressive
• have been overlapping
  perfect progressive
• has been overlapping
  perfect progressive

Past

• overlapped
  simple
• had overlapped
  perfect
• was overlapping
  progressive
• were overlapping
  progressive
• had been overlapping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will overlap
  simple
• will have overlapped
  perfect
• will be overlapping
  progressive
• will have been overlapping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of overlap

First recorded in 1685–95; over- + lap ²

Explanation

When things overlap, part or all of one thing covers part or all of the other, like roofing shingles or flat noodles in a lasagna dish. Not only can things overlap, but schedules can, too. If you accidentally schedule your doctor's appointment and your dentist appointment at the same time, they overlap, which is unfortunate because you can't be in two places at once. Philosophies and perspectives overlap when they share certain points or ideas in common.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overlap overlaps overlapped overlapping

Some qualifications that overlap with newer technical qualifications, such as T-levels, have had funding withdrawn, while others have been retained.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

But she also noted that there could be bigger retailers out there that have more overlap with the auction site.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Kronauer's team found that some of the neuromodulatory mechanisms involved in caregiving overlap in ants and mice.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

All the same, the fatty acid profile of tallow does overlap with some lipids found in human skin and sebum, including palmitic, stearic and oleic acids.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

What’s more, the overlap of notes belonging to closely related keys made moving from one key to another easy.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

The salmonella outbreak overlaps with the nation’s largest-ever cyclospora outbreak, tied to shredded iceberg lettuce, that has sickened thousands of people over the past several weeks.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Only 1% of the Netflix streaming audience for “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” overlaps with those watching the traditional flagship broadcast edition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Although it overlaps with Christianity and Judaism, civil religion draws on the scientific and secular contributions that have also informed America’s public institutions, going beyond the “doctrines of any particular church.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

However, the timing of the bombardment overlaps with a period of widespread cooling and major biological changes, raising the possibility that the impacts affected the planet's environment.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026

In a resemblance relation, a statement makes a claim that overlaps in content with the one that came before it.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

The tertulias at Alemana became the space where artists, journalists, and drunks overlapped freely.

From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026

During Trump's first term, the US president and former Brazilian president Bolsonaro enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped, and the two had met at the White House in 2019.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

His reign overlapped with the papacy of Hadrian I, which lasted from 772 to 795.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

The team also examined whether the diets of more common fungi-eating mammals overlapped with the Gilbert's potoroo.

From Science Daily ● May 20, 2026

There was a Wonder Woman poster that stretched over his bed, which overlapped one of Selena.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Species that live this way form colonies containing overlapping generations, cooperate in raising young and divide reproductive responsibilities.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

One of the goals of the merger is to shave costs by consolidating overlapping business divisions and back-office functions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

"If online content is flooded with overlapping AI labels and legal disclosures, it becomes harder for people to get the clear context they need," Massin added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

The overlapping effective altruism movement, a network of wealthy do-gooders whose most infamous adherent is imprisoned Sam Bankman-Fried, also adopted the cause.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

He does not feel confined, only separate, as though he and Celia are overlapping the circus, rather than contained within it.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern