- past tense form of superimpose.
- past participle of superimpose.
superimposed
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
"They are mirror images of each other, but you need a different glove for each. If you had two left-handed gloves, it wouldn't work because your hands can't be superimposed on top of one another."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026
A flash of superimposed text identifies them as “*Very certified*, extremely serious ballet experts.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
Norwood's Instagram page includes headshots from faux filming tests and an advertisement spoofing programs on the BBC, including being superimposed on the often-star-studded couch on BBC's The Graham Norton Show.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2025
But superimposed over the ruins was another layer of reality - a spectral mirage of the palace as it must have appeared in its heyday.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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.
