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

The Palestinian technocratic committee that is supposed to oversee the territory's daily affairs still has not been allowed to enter Gaza. —Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026

The commission oversees spectrum auctions, broadband deployment subsidies, rural connectivity programs, and emergency communications infrastructure. —Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026

The Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad, which oversees the El Cajon diocese, posted a statement on its website over the weekend. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

The audit also found WCPS failed to adequately oversee its third-party administrator, which manages more than $20 million annually in employee and retiree health care claims. —Josh Davis, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 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