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

After the meeting, Associate Town Attorney Charles Parkinson said that the Kemper Ditch and culvert area are owned and supervised by the Porter County government. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

The executive also coordinates and supervises county departments and is responsible for submitting an annual balanced budget to the Legislature. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Students who had already arrived were moved to the nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where school staff supervised them. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Bardin also supervises the company’s equity fund, launched in 2025 to finance documentary films and series with commercial potential. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 18 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