oversee
Americanverb (used with object)
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oversees,
present (3rd person singular)
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oversaw,
past
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overseen,
past participle
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overseeing
present participle
-
to direct (work or workers); supervise; manage.
He was hired to oversee the construction crews.
-
to see or observe secretly or unintentionally.
We happened to oversee the burglar leaving the premises. He was overseen stealing the letters.
-
to survey or watch, as from a higher position.
-
to look over; examine; inspect.
verb
-
to watch over and direct; supervise
-
to watch secretly or accidentally
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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overseesimple
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overseessimple
-
have overseenperfect
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has overseenperfect
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am overseeingprogressive
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are overseeingprogressive
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is overseeingprogressive
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have been overseeingperfect progressive
-
has been overseeingperfect progressive
Past
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oversawsimple
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had overseenperfect
-
was overseeingprogressive
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were overseeingprogressive
-
had been overseeingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of oversee
First recorded before 900; Middle English overseen, Old English ofersēon; equivalent to over- + see 1
Explanation
To oversee is to supervise or watch over, the way a principal oversees a school or a store manager oversees everyone who works there. This verb comes from the Old English oferseon, to "look down upon," which is also how oversee was originally used. You can say, "From this hill I oversee the whole town," but today it's much more common for oversee to mean supervise. If your Spanish club puts you in charge of the bake sale, you'll oversee everything: pricing the brownies, arranging cookies on a table, and reminding volunteers when to show up.
Vocabulary lists containing oversee
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.
See Examples For:
Sheriff’s deputies then help oversee the removal of encampments, and people who refuse to vacate after being offered services could be subject to arrest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
A senior vice president and the chief financial officer will oversee operations during CEO Ted Decker’s absence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Ann-Marie Campbell, the senior executive vice president of U.S. stores and operations, and Richard McPhail, chief financial officer, will oversee operations during his absence, Home Depot said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Within months of buying the team, Walter installed Dodgers executive Lon Rosen to oversee business operations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Third, we mean to set up a committee of private citizens to oversee free elections.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
The federal agency that oversees the security of election systems was largely absent from planning before elections this month in several states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Though environment protection is a state responsibility, the federal government oversees matters of national importance.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
“Bubbles are just really popular in flight,” said Raphael Girardoni, who oversees American’s onboard dining.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology oversees the preservation of the mummy and continuously monitors its condition.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
He works at it, oversees his herd and adds to it.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Her father, Bill Huddleston, oversaw the farming of cattle, hay, tobacco and other crops, and built the home where her mother still lives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Starting in early 2025, Salisbury oversaw the unprecedented reassignment of more than 6,000 agents to immigration enforcement, diverting most of the agency from its normal duties.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
He also oversaw the privatisation of urban housing, scrapping welfare for millions of urban workers and promoting home ownership.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Pintscher then served as its artist-in-residence, during which he oversaw a stab at the avant-garde.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
I noticed Sitaram, who oversaw the orangutans, my favourite keeper.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Masino, who had overseen the rebranding, said she wanted to stick it out, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Recent quarterly reports from funds overseen by the industry’s big players showed that loan health and investor returns are worsening, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Painter, who boasts a background in rugby league and an impressive 47-second 400m time, has overseen Hodgkinson's development since she was 17.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Adelkoff has overseen the organization while her primary residence has been listed on the Big Island of Hawaii, for at least 11 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
A nondescript postal collection depot overseen by the squat man in a frumpy suit.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
The building's management is overseeing the recovery of belongings, as hopes fade that any more survivors will be found.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The CMS is overseeing more than 800,000 cases in England, Scotland and Wales, involving more than a million children.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The president regularly speaks publicly about the ballroom and is known to spend time behind the scenes overseeing its design.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Under O'Neil's popular predecessor Kieran McKenna, who stepped down on 10 June after overseeing three promotions in four full seasons, the Blues targeted players familiar with English football.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Up at the parking lot, a bunch of adults were overseeing the dismissal, and some of them wore uniforms.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
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.
