oversee

verb

over·​see ˌō-vər-ˈsē How to pronounce oversee (audio)
oversaw ˌō-vər-ˈsȯ How to pronounce oversee (audio) ; overseen ˌō-vər-ˈsēn How to pronounce oversee (audio) ; overseeing
Synonyms of overseenext

transitive verb

1
: survey, watch
From his hilltop home he can oversee the river below.
2
a
: inspect, examine
oversees all new machinery
b
: to watch over and direct (an undertaking, a group of workers, etc.) in order to ensure a satisfactory outcome or performance : supervise
was hired to oversee the design and construction of the new library
oversaw 20 employees

Synonyms of oversee

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Examples of oversee in a Sentence

He was hired to oversee design and construction of the new facility. will oversee the new manufacturing division
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cloudflare, a company that oversees much of the internet’s web traffic, is digging its heels in over AI web crawlers. — Samantha Elkins, NBC news, 1 July 2026 The White House previously said the president's business interests are overseen by his children. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The manor house is historically protected, which means the renovation was carefully overseen. — Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content. — Florida International University, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oversee

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oversee was before the 12th century

Rhymes for oversee

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Browse Nearby Words

oversecretion
oversee
overseed
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Cite this Entry

“Oversee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversee. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

oversee

verb
over·​see ˌō-vər-ˈsē How to pronounce oversee (audio)
oversaw -ˈsȯ How to pronounce oversee (audio) ; overseen -ˈsēn How to pronounce oversee (audio) ; overseeing
1
: to look down upon : survey
2
a
: to look over : examine
b
: superintend, supervise

More from Merriam-Webster on oversee

Nglish: Translation of oversee for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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