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 of overlook

Verb

• dominate

Noun

• lookout
• observatory
• tower

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

This was not an environment conducive to success or bedding in a newcomer whose confidence may not have been high anyway, given Johnson had been largely overlooked in the first half of the season by Spurs’ then head coach Thomas Frank. —Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial landmarks give the compact downtown a European feel, anchored by the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos overlooking Matanzas Bay. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026

Noun

Popular routes include the Zhushan Sunrise Trail—where early risers catch a sea of clouds backlit by cherry blossoms—and forest loops connecting ponds, shrines, and scenic overlooks. —Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026

Beginning in Duluth, this legendary highway stretches northeast along Lake Superior's rugged coastline toward Canada, offering access to state parks, lighthouses, waterfalls, scenic overlooks, beaches, hiking trail access points, and charming North Shore communities. —Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overlook

• kinderhook
• meadowbrook
• overtook
• pocketbook
• storybook
• tillamook
• undertook
• betook
• casebook
• chapbook
• checkbook
• chinook

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