oversee

verb

over·​see ˌō-vər-ˈsē 

oversaw ˌō-vər-ˈsȯ  ; overseen ˌō-vər-ˈsēn  ; 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

Synonyms of oversee

• supervise
• manage
• operate
• regulate
• handle
• control
• conduct
• govern

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

Turner also oversaw the purchase of two motion-picture production companies, New Line Cinema and Castle Rock Entertainment, in 1993. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 7 May 2026

Food and drink The hotel’s in-house restaurant, The Strand, is overseen by chefs Manon Santini and Rocco Seminara. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026

Seong Won, who oversees the cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, said the Dharma name was chosen in line with the spirit of Buddhism. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 May 2026

The committee overseeing the program, which is composed of Business Director Dee Dee Myers, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and two legislative appointees, met and agreed to reward the most recent round of awardees last week. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for oversee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

oversee

verb

over·​see ˌō-vər-ˈsē 

oversaw -ˈsȯ  ; overseen -ˈsēn  ; overseeing

1

: to look down upon : survey

2

a

: to look over : examine

b

: superintend, supervise