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

• administer
• administrate
• carry on
• conduct
• control
• direct
• govern
• guide
• handle
• keep
• manage
• operate
• overlook
• preside (over)
• regulate
• run
• steward
• superintend
• supervise
• tend

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 judge overseeing the trial found last year that Google has a monopoly in online search and related advertising. —Jody Godoy, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

Pietro Parolin The current secretary of state for the Holy See, Parolin is an experienced Italian diplomat who has helped oversee the Vatican's internal affairs but also worked on behalf of the Catholic Church around the world in countries from Venezuela to Vietnam. —Willem Marx, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025

Montoya is the fourth El Paso DA to oversee the case, which has been delayed by everything from the Covid-19 pandemic to forced resignations and allegations of misconduct. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025

Universal’s executive vp of production development Matt Reilly and senior vp of production development Ryan Jones oversee the project for the studio. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2025

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