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

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

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 Gary Levine and Urooj Sharif will oversee for Showtime Studios, with production supervised by Tara Power. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 June 2024 Once in charge, Rosie tapped her brother, Juan, to help oversee Jenni Rivera Enterprises, a company that in addition to music included a tequila brand, beauty products and a fashion line. Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024 This dispute involved the ways in which the SEC enforces securities laws: through civil actions brought in federal district court or through internal proceedings overseen by in-house administrative law judges. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 27 June 2024 Republicans are pointing to a series of high-profile murders to argue that President Joe Biden is overseeing a wave of migrant crime as data on whether there is a true uptick nationally are hard to come by. Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for oversee 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oversee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near oversee

Cite this Entry

“Oversee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversee. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on oversee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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