overlie

over·lie
O1V4E1R1L1I1E1
/ˌoʊvɚˈlaɪ/

verb

To lie over or upon

“The new sediment layers overlie the older rock formations.”

Similar
overlay
OriginMiddle English overlien →
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Meanings

verboverlie (third-person singular simple present overlies, present participle overlying, simple past overlay, past participle overlain)

present singular third person overlies · participle present overlying · past overlay · participle past overlain

  1. To lie over or upon

    The new sediment layers overlie the older rock formations.

  2. transitiveTo suffocate by lying upon

Synonyms & antonyms

verbkill by lying on

Similar
overlay
Broader
kill
Also see
overlay

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishoverlien
  2. Englishoverlie

From Middle English overlien, overliggen, equivalent to over- + lie (“to be reclined”). Compare West Frisian oerlizze, German überliegen, Danish overligge, Swedish överligga, Norwegian overligge.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with overlie

byimybuyhighywhyreplyjJulytryapplysupplyhieyeguyfidiflyskynearbykyspysi
All rhymes →

Anagrams

relievo
Cite this entry
APA

overlie. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overlie

MLA

“overlie.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overlie. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overlie,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overlie.

Source: overlie on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.