Meaning & use
overlap
To partly cover or coincide with something else, sharing a common area, time, or subject matter.
See it in a sentence
The two meetings overlap by thirty minutes, so I can only attend part of each.
Our research interests overlap quite a bit, which is why we decided to collaborate.
A note on using this word
Overlap works as both a verb and a noun with the same spelling; as a noun it names the shared portion itself, as in there was some overlap.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
diverge
Another way to use it
2. noun
An area, period, or amount that two or more things have in common.
There is a noticeable overlap between the two job descriptions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overlap”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.