# overlay

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˌəʊ.vəˈleɪ/ · frequency rank #21,306

## Definitions
1. To lay, spread, or apply (something) over or across (something else); to overspread.
2. To overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
3. To lie over (someone, especially a child) in order to smother it; to suffocate.
4. To put an overlay on.
5. To bet too much money on.

## Etymology
From Middle English overleyen, from Old English oferleċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *obarlaggjan, from Proto-Germanic *uberlagjaną, equivalent to over- + lay. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurläze, úurlääse, Dutch overleggen, German Low German overleggen, överleggen, German überlegen, Swedish överlägga, Norwegian overlegge. Compare overlie.

## Easily confused with
- **overly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlay-vs-overly)
- **oversaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlay-vs-oversaw)
- **overtly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlay-vs-overtly)
- **overran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlay-vs-overran)
- **overload** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlay-vs-overload)
- **overlap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlap-vs-overlay)
- **overland** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overland-vs-overlay)
- **overlaid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlaid-vs-overlay)

## Common misspellings (10)
`oevrlay`, `ovelray`, `overaly`, `overlayy`, `overllay`, `overlya`, `overrlay`, `ovrelay`, `ovverlay`, `voerlay`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overlay