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

Nutley directed academic services at St. Xavier, and supervised a program aimed at helping teens who were struggling academically, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025

Shapiro supervises them all, on both scientific and ethical matters. —D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Gary Levine and Urooj Sharif oversee for Showtime Studios, with production supervised by Tara Power. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025

The sheriff’s program was created in 1989 out of a mandate to reduce overcrowding in the county jail following a consent decree, while the chief judge launched a separate program in 2009 to supervise people charged or convicted of violating orders of protection. —A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 30 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