overlook

American  

[oh-ver-look, oh-ver-look] / ˌoʊ vərˈlʊk, ˈoʊ vərˌlʊk /

verb (used with object)

1. to fail to notice, perceive, or consider.

   to overlook a misspelled word.

   Synonyms:

   miss

2. to disregard or ignore indulgently, as faults or misconduct.

   Only a parent could overlook that kind of behavior.

3. to look over, as from a higher position.

   a balcony that overlooks the ballroom.

4. to afford a view over; look down or out upon.

   a hill overlooking the sea.

5. to rise above.

   The Washington Monument overlooks the tidal basin.

6. to excuse; pardon.

   a minor infraction we can overlook this time.

7. to look over in inspection, examination, or perusal.

   They allowed us to overlook the proposed contract.

8. to look after, oversee, or supervise.

   She has to overlook a large number of employees.

9. Archaic. to look upon with the evil eye; bewitch.

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noun

1. terrain, as on a cliff, that affords an attractive vista or a good view.

   Miles of landscape could be seen from the overlook.

overlook British  

verb

1. to fail to notice or take into account

2. to disregard deliberately or indulgently

3. to look at or over from above

   the garden is overlooked by the prison

4. to afford a view of from above

   the house overlooks the bay

5. to rise above

6. to look after

7. to look at carefully

8. to bewitch or cast the evil eye upon (someone)

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noun

1. a high place affording a view

2. an act of overlooking

Related Words

See slight.

Etymology

Origin of overlook

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; over-, look

Explanation

To overlook something is to fail to see it. When planning a party, it's best to write out a to-do list so that you don't overlook any details. The verb overlook literally means to look over the top of. The word has come to refer to the act of neglecting something, usually because your focus is aimed elsewhere. You might overlook the cost of car insurance if you’re busy calculating the cost of buying the car and paying for gas and parking. As a noun, an overlook is a space high above ground. You might overlook your curfew if you're busy enjoying an overlook with your date.

Example Sentences

On the facade of one building, giant portraits of the Islamic republic's founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, and his successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war, overlook a field of ruins.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Described in its listing as a “modernist masterpiece,” the triplex unit spans exactly 11,000 square feet and features an incredible double-height living room with walls of windows that overlook the Hudson River.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

If we limit service to the battlefield, we overlook the millions who strengthen this country in other meaningful ways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

L.A. is a city of reinvention, where second chances are a civic sacrament and residents often overlook the flaws of the famous.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

It’s so easy to overlook how rare it is.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• discount
• forget
• ignore
• omit