overlook

1 of 2

verb

over·​look ˌō-vər-ˈlu̇k 

overlooked; overlooking; overlooks

transitive verb

1

: to look over : inspect

took down a map and overlooked it

—Eileen Duggan

2

a

: to look down upon from above

do not like living near water, and prefer not to be overlooked

—G. W. B. Huntingford

b

: to rise above or afford a view of

the mountains that overlook the village

3

a

: to look past : miss

whose sharpened senses overlook nothing

—Richard Semon

b

: ignore sense 1

learned to overlook her boyfriend's minor faults

c

: excuse sense 2

minor misdemeanors may sometimes be overlooked

—Punch

4

: superintend, oversee

The chaperones will overlook the students' behavior on the field trip.

5

: to look on with the evil eye : bewitch

a baby that has been overlooked will begin to pine away

—F. G. Cassidy

overlook

2 of 2

noun

over·​look ˈō-vər-ˌlu̇k 

: a place from which one may look down on a scene below

plenty of overlooks and trails

—Thelma H. Bell

Synonyms

Verb

• command
• dominate

Noun

• lookout
• observatory
• outlook

Choose the Right Synonym for overlook

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of overlook in a Sentence

Verb

The detective overlooked an important clue.

Such a crime should not be overlooked.

The quarterback was overlooked by other teams.

the mountains that overlook the village

We rented a suite that overlooks the lake.

Noun

just down the road there's a great overlook where you can get a panoramic view of the valley below

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Investors overlooked dismal earnings last week as the company pledged to launch lower-cost EVs as soon as late this year. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2024

But also not to be overlooked were the matching bracelet, earring and rings. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2024

The human side of prior authorization While technology and regulations hold a piece of the answer, the importance of high-quality human interactions can’t be overlooked. —Matthew Walker, STAT, 26 Apr. 2024

There’s a 24-hour fitness studio as well as outdoor pools overlooking the ocean. —Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024

The pair exchanged vows in front of 40 guests at Bethesda Terrace, which overlooks the southern shore of the Lake in Central Park, followed by cocktails and a private dinner at the Lambs Club. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 26 Apr. 2024

Many people feel that cases of missing Indigenous women are overlooked and others go unreported in the data. —Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024

Wide banks of glass sliders blur the line between indoor/outdoor living and spill out to a massive covered dining loggia overlooking the backyard lawn and pool. —Leslie Rivera, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024

The Opening Ceremony will be the first ever held in a city center, with gigantic Olympic rings to be displayed on the Eiffel Tower overlooking the Seine, on which a swarm of boats will carry athletes toward the Tower. —Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024

Noun

Rezoning the area of the cross overlook at Mount Sequoyah from residential single-family up to 4 units an acre to a public institutional zone. —Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 9 Apr. 2024

Situated on a slightly elevated parcel, the home overlooks both the fairway and lagoon. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024

The road dead-ends at the overlook, which has a very small parking lot, sometimes overseen by rangers and volunteers, who often have to help drivers turn around. —Tom Bentley, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2024

The trail will pass the ecology center and include a river overlook and trailhead with a bathroom, bike racks and a parking lot. —John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2024

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Rainbow Bridge would remain as a scenic overlook, BoiseDev reported. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2024

Bieri says travelers can easily spend two days driving around to overlooks and other sites in New River Gorge. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024

The Bureau of Land Management, which controls it, describes the area as hilly with overlooks of the Sacramento River. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024

If anything, the German songwriter-producer’s journey brings to mind a hiking trail that winds through a mountain range: There have been tough, uphill ascents, breathtaking overlooks, extended rest stops and the occasional detour. —Joe Lynch, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

overlook

verb

over·​look

ˌō-vər-ˈlu̇k

1

: to look over : inspect

2

a

: to look down upon from above

b

: to provide a view of from above

the mountain overlooks a lake

3

a

: to fail to see : miss

b

: to pay no attention to : ignore

overlook a beginner's mistakes