supervise

verb

su·​per·​vise ˈsü-pər-ˌvīz 

supervised; supervising

transitive verb

: to be in charge of : superintend, oversee

supervise a large staff

supervised the ship's daily operations

Synonyms of supervise

• oversee
• handle
• manage

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

Weerasethakul supervised the 4K restorations, which include remastered and remixed audio and new key art for each film. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Wharton professor Peter Conti-Brown discusses whether the banking system offers a useful model for supervising powerful AI companies. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Yet finding qualified preceptors to supervise clinical hours is a giant obstacle, as Raithel Vargas learned. — Colleen Connolly, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026

Many camps do not allow staff to use or carry phones while supervising campers. — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for supervise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

supervise

verb

su·​per·​vise ˈsü-pər-ˌvīz 

supervised; supervising

: superintend, oversee

Etymology

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