overlapping

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overlapping" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe situations where two or more things share common elements or occur at the same time. Example: "The overlapping schedules of the two meetings made it difficult for me to attend both."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Marcelo was free, overlapping on the left, and the full-back's cross was measured perfectly for Benzema to turn the ball in at the far post.

The Guardian - Sport

Stephan Lichtsteiner, overlapping from right-back, ran on to the ball to set up Carlos Tevez and the rebound fell perfectly for Morata once Marc-André ter Stegen had blocked the initial effort.

The Guardian - Sport

From the top to the bottom, cut away all the skin and pith in a series of slightly overlapping slices.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The idea would be to transform messily overlapping competitors into European champions, one in energy (Siemens) and the other in transport (Alstom).The prospect of losing most of this "industrial jewel" to a foreign buyer has touched a nerve.

The Economist

In the programme guide a colour-coded confusion of overlapping time-blocks cries, "Hurry, hurry!

The Economist

Or even their views on immigration: in Tory-sponsored focus groups, researchers find minority voters frankly ferocious towards asylum seekers on benefits or eastern Europeans "stealing British jobs".Conservative strategists know that seemingly overlapping political beliefs can be trumped by deeper clashes of values.

The Economist

No one doubts that the archaic, overlapping patchwork of agencies needs modernising, with regulation refocused on a firm's activities rather than its legal form.

The Economist

But when the separate (but overlapping) consortium which operates the main gasfield hired consultants to certify the reserves, they found just 8.8 trillion cubic feet.

The Economist

Macquarie's mix of businesses behaves a bit like overlapping shadows; it is hard to know where one begins and another ends.

The Economist

Putting all the big investment banks on the payroll reduces the likelihood that any facet of the deal will be criticised by analysts, but the banks' overlapping client coverage means that it will do little to increase demand for the shares.

The Economist

Such overlapping metaphors appear time and time again.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like responsibilities or schedules, use "overlapping" to highlight shared elements or concurrent timing. This makes it clear that the items are not entirely distinct.

Common error

Avoid using "overlapping" to describe events that occur in sequence. "Overlapping" implies that events occur at least partially at the same time. If events happen one after another, use terms like "successive" or "sequential" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "overlapping" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that shares common elements or space with something else. As Ludwig AI underlines, it indicates a partial coincidence or extension over something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "overlapping" functions primarily as an adjective, used to describe scenarios where items or events share common attributes or occur simultaneously. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is correct and usable in written English. The analysis shows that "overlapping" frequently appears in neutral contexts, such as News & Media, as well as in more formal settings, like those of Formal & Business. When using "overlapping", ensure that the context correctly implies a shared element or concurrence, and avoid using it for purely sequential events. Related terms include "intersecting" and "coinciding", each offering subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intersecting

Indicates a shared common area, implying a more precise point of intersection rather than a general overlap.

overlaying

Similar to superimposed, but often used in technical contexts like mapping or graphics.

interlacing

Suggests a weaving or intertwining, emphasizing a closer integration than a simple overlap.

coinciding

Focuses on events happening at the same time, lacking the spatial implication of "overlapping".

converging

Describes things coming together at a point, more focused on the movement than the shared space.

superimposed

Implies one thing is placed on top of another, creating a layered effect.

covering

Suggests one thing is on top of another. It suggests more of an encompassing quality.

duplicating

Emphasizes a similarity or reproduction.

reproducing

It puts more emphasis on duplicating with an intent to replicate. It does not share the same semantic field with overlapping.

encroaching

Implies that something is gradually trespassing in some space or territory, which changes the meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "overlapping" in a sentence?

You can use "overlapping" to describe things that share common parts or occur at the same time. For example, "The company's departments have "overlapping responsibilities"".

What are some alternatives to "overlapping"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "overlapping" include "intersecting", "interlacing", or "coinciding".

Is it correct to say "the events are overlapping each other"?

While understandable, it's more concise and grammatically standard to say "the events are overlapping". The "each other" is often redundant in this context.

What's the difference between "overlapping" and "adjacent"?

"Overlapping" means sharing a common area or time, while "adjacent" means next to each other without necessarily sharing any part. "Adjacent" objects are side-by-side, while overlapping objects share a portion of their space or time.