supervise

verb

su·​per·​vise ˈsü-pər-ˌvīz How to pronounce supervise (audio)
supervised; supervising

transitive verb

: to be in charge of : superintend, oversee
supervise a large staff
supervised the ship's daily operations

Examples of supervise in a Sentence

The builder supervised the construction of the house. She supervises a staff of 30 workers.
Recent Examples on the Web The company behind the 737 Max, a plane its own test pilots infamously derided as designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, wants to be known for quality and safety once again. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Frank helped supervise an enormous complex for uranium separation at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 The patient was admitted to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment supervised by Dr. Anthony Tomassoni, a toxicologist on staff there. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The Texas policy also calls for new team members to shadow the group for two executions, and then to be supervised on their first two executions, in turn. Bill Chappell, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 Typically, candidates are required to complete one to two years of work experience that is supervised by a licensed CPA. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024 Participants have to be at least 3 years old, and anyone under 18 has to be supervised by an adult at all times. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 His barn blazed with indoor lamps and his lush outdoor garden – supervised by a skilled cultivator – climbed a mountainous slope beneath coastal redwoods. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 There were about 1,900 parolees being supervised out of the Colorado Springs office in 2021, compared to about 1,400 supervised out of Denver, according to the Department of Corrections. Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supervise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin supervisus, past participle of supervidēre, from Latin super- + vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supervise was circa 1645

Dictionary Entries Near supervise

Cite this Entry

“Supervise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supervise. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

supervise

verb
su·​per·​vise ˈsü-pər-ˌvīz How to pronounce supervise (audio)
supervised; supervising
Etymology

from Latin supervisus, past participle of supervidēre "to oversee," from super- "over, above" and vidēre "to see" — related to vision

More from Merriam-Webster on supervise

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