overlooked
Americanadjective
-
not noticed, or not considered, used, etc..
This collection of songs includes some long overlooked material by the artist.
-
indulgently or generously excused or disregarded, as faults or misbehavior.
We share love in a million different ways—a kind word or friendly smile here, an overlooked offense or an act of service there.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of overlooked
Explanation
Something that's overlooked is either not seen or deliberately ignored. If you find a plastic egg full of stale jelly beans in June, it may be an overlooked prize from April's Easter egg hunt. When you disregard, pass over, or fail to notice something, you can call it overlooked. Your best friend's overlooked faults might include her tendency to be late and her annoying laugh — you ignore both because you like her so much. This adjective stems from the verb overlook, which is currently defined as "fail to notice" but originally meant "peer over the top of" or "inspect."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
BNP Paribas wasn’t surprised the market overlooked the weaker-than-expected guidance, however.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The 22-year-old missed two qualifying matches last September because of a shoulder injury but was overlooked for October's international camp, including a qualifier against Latvia.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
One of the most overlooked “supplements” in later life is not a vitamin at all, but protein.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
It was just really watching a master at work, and the rest of our crew as well; not a detail was ever overlooked.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
My room was on the first floor, and the window, a short distance above the pine-needle-padded ground, overlooked a wooded yard ringed by a red brick wall.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
