overlap

overlap — verb

1. to lie over part of another thing, or to arrange things so one partly covers ano

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to lie over part of another thing, or to arrange things so one partly covers another.

Example

The roof tiles overlap to keep rain out of the house.

intransitive: things overlap physically

Lay the photos so they overlap at the corners.

pattern: overlap at the corners

Common collocations
  • overlap at the edges
  • overlap the map
  • overlap one sheet with another
  • overlap near the seam
  • slightly overlap
Synonyms
  • cover

    broader, and it does not always suggest that both things share only part of the same space

  • lap over

    close in physical meaning, especially for edges or layers

  • cross

    suggests passing over something, not necessarily lying on top of it for some distance

Antonyms
  • separate

    to keep things apart instead of partly covering each other

  • leave a gap

    to keep space between two edges

Grammar Patterns

A overlaps B

overlap A with B

Usage Note

Usually used with visible things such as tiles, papers, cloth, shadows, or shapes. Distinguish from sense 2, where the shared part is time, work, or subject matter rather than physical space.

Common Mistakes

The two rugs overlap with each other on the floor.
The two rugs overlap on the floor.
'with each other' is often unnecessary when both things are already the subject.
Sam overlapped the paper to another sheet.
Sam overlapped the paper with another sheet.
use 'with' in the transitive pattern.

2. if times, jobs, ideas, or areas of study overlap, they share some of the same pa

2.verbintransitiveC2
Definition

if times, jobs, ideas, or areas of study overlap, they share some of the same parts.

Example

Our lunch break overlaps with Ken's music class on Fridays.

pattern: overlap with + schedule

The driving class and bike class overlap in road safety.

pattern: overlap in + topic

Common collocations
  • overlap with a meeting
  • overlap in content
  • overlap by ten minutes
  • roles overlap
  • areas overlap
Synonyms
  • coincide

    more formal, and especially common for times or facts happening together

  • intersect

    more technical, often used for lines, fields, or ideas meeting in one area

  • match

    can suggest complete sameness, not just a shared part

Antonyms
  • differ

    to be unlike each other instead of sharing common parts

  • conflict

    to clash rather than fit together in one shared area

Grammar Patterns

A overlaps with B

A and B overlap

overlap in + area/topic

overlap by + amount of time

Usage Note

Often used for schedules, duties, interests, and subjects. Common with 'with', 'in', and expressions of time such as 'by ten minutes'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about things lying over the same visible space.

Common Mistakes

My class overlaps to lunch.
My class overlaps with lunch.
use 'with' for the other event or period.
The jobs are overlap in duties.
The jobs overlap in duties.
use the verb directly, not 'are overlap'.

3. in football, to pass the ball and then run outside another player on your team t

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveC2
Definition

in football, to pass the ball and then run outside another player on your team to receive it again.

Example

The left-back overlapped and received the ball near the corner flag.

football: overlap after a pass

After the short pass, Diego overlapped Marco on the wing.

transitive: overlap + teammate

Common collocations
  • overlap on the wing
  • overlap the winger
  • timed overlap
  • overlap outside
  • return pass after an overlap
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • cut inside

    to move into the center instead of running around the outside

Grammar Patterns

player overlaps

overlap the winger

overlap on the wing

Usage Note

Used mainly in football coaching and match reports. The subject is the player making the outside run; in the transitive pattern, the object is the teammate being passed on the outside.

Common Mistakes

The full-back overlapped to the winger.
The full-back overlapped the winger.
in the transitive football pattern, the teammate comes directly after the verb.

overlap — noun

Word family

  • overlapping
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Overlap' is best when two things share part of the same space, time, or content, but not all of it. 'Cover' is broader and often one-sided: a blanket can cover a chair without the idea that both items share only part of the same area. 'Intersect' sounds more technical and is common for lines, roads, sets, or fields of study. 'Coincide' is more formal and often used for times, facts, or opinions happening together. 'Cross' suggests going from one side to another, not remaining on the same area for a while. Roof tiles overlap, two meetings can coincide, and two subjects may intersect in one topic.

overlap ↗cover ↗intersectcoincide ↗cross ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • schedules
  • duties
  • interests
  • areas

Adverbs

Phrases

  • overlap with
  • overlap each other
  • there is overlap between
  • a degree of overlap

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Built in English from 'over' and an old verb 'lap', which meant to fold or lay one part over another. That physical picture explains the earliest sense of things partly covering each other. English later extended the word to times, jobs, and subjects that share only part of the same range.