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

• boss
• captain
• handle
• head
• overlook
• oversee
• quarterback
• superintend

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

Among the film’s interviewees are two former nuns at the school and the abbot who supervised several of the priests accused of rape and murder. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025

By strictly supervising the pasteurization process, Evangelina ensured that no infants would die due to tainted milk supplies. —Laura Gómez, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2025

Marocco's title at USAID was assistant to the administrator overseeing the Bureau of Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Operations, supervising a large range of programs. —Fatma Tanis, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025

Among the revelations is that King lobbied the city manager to raise the salary of the person who supervised many of his contracts. —Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2025

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
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

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