overlap

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

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

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)

, o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

1. to lap over:

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

noun

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

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 Words From

• nono·ver·lapping adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overlap¹

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

Example Sentences

T-levels were launched by the former Conservative government, which planned to make them the main route into vocational education by defunding alternative courses, like BTecs, with overlapping subject areas.

From BBC

He has also proposed eliminating hundreds of federal agencies, arguing that many of them have overlapping areas of responsibility.

From BBC

And though Trump has publicly distanced himself from the conservative Project 2025 playbook, many of its proposals overlap with Trump’s agenda and the Republican Party platform.

From Los Angeles Times

But Stewart, like Trump, lives in the Venn diagram overlap between entertainment and politics.

From Salon

The overlapping point on each of these walls, of course, is Pennsylvania - the biggest battleground electoral prize.

From BBC