overlapping

IPA/ˌəʊ.vəˈlæp.ɪŋ/
KK[ˈovɚlˌæpɪŋ]IPA/ˌoʊ.vɚˈlæp.ɪŋ/

overlapping — adjective

  • overlappingpositive
  • more overlappingcomparative
  • most overlappingsuperlative

1. used when things are positioned so that one partly covers another — for example,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

used when things are positioned so that one partly covers another — for example, tiles on a roof, sheets of paper, or layers in a diagram

Example

The artist used overlapping circles of different colours to create a sense of depth in the painting.

attributive: overlapping + concrete noun (circles, tiles, leaves)

Lotte arranged the overlapping roof tiles so that rainwater would run off smoothly.

Common collocations
  • overlapping circles
  • overlapping tiles
  • overlapping layers
  • overlapping leaves
  • overlapping areas
Synonyms
  • layered

    focuses on the vertical stacking arrangement rather than partial coverage

  • intersecting

    implies crossing each other at a point, not partial surface coverage

Antonyms
  • separate

    not touching or covering the same area

  • gapped

    having spaces between the items

Grammar Patterns

overlapping + noun

be + overlapping

Usage Note

Most common in attributive position before a noun. Often describes physical objects such as tiles, leaves, scales, or layers that cover one another partially.

2. used when events or activities take place during the same period, often so that

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

used when events or activities take place during the same period, often so that one starts before an earlier one has finished

Example

Gabriel had two overlapping work shifts this week, so he barely had time to eat dinner.

attributive: overlapping + time nouns (shifts, appointments, schedules)

The school scheduled overlapping lunch periods so that the canteen would not be too crowded.

Common collocations
  • overlapping shifts
  • overlapping schedules
  • overlapping appointments
  • overlapping sessions
  • overlapping meetings
Synonyms
  • simultaneous

    more formal; implies starting at exactly the same moment rather than partly coinciding in time

  • concurrent

    formal; used in academic or professional contexts for events running in parallel

Antonyms
  • consecutive

    one after the other, not at the same time

  • staggered

    arranged at different times to avoid coincidence

Grammar Patterns

overlapping + noun (time periods)

be + overlapping

Usage Note

Commonly used with nouns that describe time slots: shifts, appointments, schedules, sessions, meetings. The predicative form (the meetings are overlapping) is also frequent.

Common Mistakes

The two shifts are overlapped.
The two shifts are overlapping.
use the adjective form after 'be', not the past participle of the verb.

3. used for duties, roles, interests, or activities that belong partly to more than

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

used for duties, roles, interests, or activities that belong partly to more than one person or group — not completely separate

Example

Léa and her colleague had overlapping responsibilities, which sometimes caused confusion about who should handle a task.

pattern: have + overlapping + abstract noun (responsibilities, duties, roles)

The two government agencies had overlapping areas of authority, so they agreed to coordinate their efforts.

Common collocations
  • overlapping responsibilities
  • overlapping roles
  • overlapping interests
  • overlapping authority
  • overlapping duties
Synonyms
  • shared

    simpler and more general; does not imply partial coverage — could be fully shared

  • common

    suggests belonging to everyone involved, not necessarily partially

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

overlapping + noun (responsibilities, interests)

be + overlapping

overlapping — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

These four verbs all describe things that are similar or match in some way, but they differ in how much similarity they imply. Overlap is the broadest and most common: it means that two or more things share some features or area but not all of them. Coincide is more formal and can mean either 'happen at the same time' or 'agree exactly'; when used for traits or opinions it often suggests a closer match than overlap does. Correspond suggests a systematic matching relationship — such as one set of data matching another set — and is common in academic or technical contexts. Share is the simplest everyday word and does not distinguish between partial and full commonality. For example, two friends may overlap in taste in music (some favourite bands are the same, others differ), while their political views may coincide more closely on certain issues and correspond to their economic backgrounds.

overlap ↗coincide ↗correspond ↗share ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • partially overlap
  • largely overlap
  • significantly overlap
  • slightly overlap
  • considerably overlap

Phrases

  • overlap to some extent
  • overlap in terms of
  • there is overlap between
  • degree of overlap

Prepositions

  • overlap with
  • overlap in
  • overlap by
  • overlap between

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Overlap was formed in English around the 1700s by combining the prefix over- (meaning 'above, across') with the verb lap, which originally meant 'to wrap or fold'. In Old English, lapian meant 'to fold or wrap around', and it is related to the word lap as in 'the part of clothing that can be folded over'. The physical sense — one thing lying partly over another — appeared first. By the late 1800s, the word had developed figurative uses for time periods, interests, and responsibilities that share common ground. The adjective overlapping emerged soon after, staying close to the verb's meaning.

First known use

1704

1704, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1