Meaning & use
overlays
Last updated
layers or coverings placed over something else, often to add information, decoration, or protection.
See it in a sentence
The map app displays traffic overlays so drivers can see congested routes.
Designers added text overlays to the video to highlight key statistics.
A note on using this word
Overlays also functions as a verb form ('he overlays the image with a grid'); context determines whether it's a noun or a verb.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
to place one thing over another, especially as a layer
The technician overlays the blueprint with the electrical wiring plan.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overlays”, then compare your use with the examples above.