overlap

[ verb oh-ver-lap; noun oh-ver-lap ]

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈlæp; noun ˈoʊ vərˌlæp /

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See synonyms for: overlap / overlapped / overlapping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

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

to cover and extend beyond (something else): The ends of cloth overlap the table.

to coincide in part with; have in common with: two lives that overlapped each other.

verb (used without object), o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

to lap over: two sales territories that overlap; fields of knowledge that overlap.

noun

an act or instance of overlapping.

the extent or amount of overlapping: The second story of the building has an overlap of ten feet.

an overlapping part.

the place of overlapping.

(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.

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Origin of overlap

First recorded in 1685–95; over- + lap²

OTHER WORDS FROM overlap

non·o·ver·lap·ping, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use overlap in a sentence

The content strategy sweet spot is finding the overlap between your own goals and the goals of your target audience.
Why your content strategy needs both rank-worthy and link-worthy content in the mix|Amanda Milligan|December 8, 2020|Search Engine Land
There is some overlap across these data providers but each data provider tracks different metrics, different sites, different keyword sets.
Google’s December 2020 core update was big, even bigger than May 2020, say data providers|Barry Schwartz|December 7, 2020|Search Engine Land
Buyers say that going into 2021, figuring out which retail media networks to prioritize and where to spend will be key for advertisers as with the retail media growth overlap is likely to happen.
‘Hard time understanding what sets them apart’: As retail media grows rapidly, advertisers are uncertain where to spend|Kristina Monllos|December 7, 2020|Digiday
So I think both on AVOD and subscription, there’s a lot of overlap there.
‘I believe enough in this to try to do it myself’: CollegeHumor owner Sam Reich on the brand’s future potential|Pierre Bienaimé|December 1, 2020|Digiday

There’s pretty limited overlap from my purview and even our planning tool’s purview.
‘Context really matters again’: How BuzzFeed’s HuffPost acquisition can help the combined company’s ad sales pitch|Tim Peterson|November 30, 2020|Digiday
In some areas, the overlap was even higher: 100 percent of plantations in Ghana overlapped.
Our Taste for Cheap Palm Oil Is Killing Chimpanzees|Carrie Arnold|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They found that 60 percent of plantations overlapped with great ape habitat across the entire area.
Our Taste for Cheap Palm Oil Is Killing Chimpanzees|Carrie Arnold|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course, U.S.-Russian relations have overlapped in some areas of mutual interest.
Ex- CIA Chief: Why We Keep Getting Putin Wrong|Eli Lake, Noah Shachtman, Christopher Dickey|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He told me he felt he was being overlapped by all these circumstances in Dallas—that it was a go-go city, but he was left out.
The True Story Behind Dallas Buyers Club: Meet the Real Ron Woodruff|Andrew Romano|November 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Members of the militias led by bin-Ahmed and al-Gharabi overlapped with the February 17 militia, the cable says.
Exclusive: Libya Cable Detailed Threats|Eli Lake|October 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Their jurisdictions overlapped and the Gascon would play second fiddle to no one save to his great brother-in-law.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It seemed that each week Jane's expenditure overlapped her allowance with appalling regularity.
The Creators|May Sinclair
The Union army deployed in front of the Southerners and overlapped their left wing.
The Civil War Through the Camera|Henry W. (Henry William) Elson
This coat was very warm, being lined with flannel, and overlapped very much in front.
Hudson Bay|R.M. Ballantyne
The two collections in considerable degree overlapped, being derived from the same sources.
Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists|Various

British Dictionary definitions for overlap

overlap

verb (ˌəʊvəˈlæp) -laps, -lapping or -lapped

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

to cover and extend beyond (something)

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

noun (ˈəʊvəˌlæp)

a part that overlaps or is overlapped

the amount, length, etc, overlapping

the act or fact of overlapping

a place of overlapping

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for overlap

overlap

[ ō′vər-lăp′ ]

A part or portion of a structure that extends or projects over another.

The suturing of one layer of tissue above or under another layer to provide additional strength, often used in dental surgery.

To lie over and partly cover something.

To perform a surgical overlap.

overlap

Origin of overlap

OTHER WORDS FROM overlap

Words related to overlap

How to use overlap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overlap

Medical definitions for overlap