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

Ivy Fradin, managing member of BG Group, which is overseeing the demolition, explained the process. —Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

Dowling, who oversees the SRG in his role as assistant chief of special operations, was previously accused of pulling a female protester’s hair and shoving her to the ground in downtown Manhattan in 2020. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026

The city’s Department of Transportation oversees the Divvy program, which is operated under contract by Lyft. —Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

Proximity Media’s creative executives Hannah Baker and D’Angelo Louis will also oversee the project. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Apr. 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