overlook
[verb oh-ver-look; noun oh-ver-look]
- to fail to notice, perceive, or consider: to overlook a misspelled word.
- to disregard or ignore indulgently, as faults or misconduct: Only a parent could overlook that kind of behavior.
- to look over, as from a higher position: a balcony that overlooks the ballroom.
- to afford a view over; look down or out upon: a hill overlooking the sea.
- to rise above: The Washington Monument overlooks the tidal basin.
- to excuse; pardon: a minor infraction we can overlook this time.
- to look over in inspection, examination, or perusal: They allowed us to overlook the proposed contract.
- to look after, oversee, or supervise: She has to overlook a large number of employees.
- Archaic. to look upon with the evil eye; bewitch.
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- terrain, as on a cliff, that affords an attractive vista or a good view: Miles of landscape could be seen from the overlook.
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Origin of overlook
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
ignore, discount, omit, forget, disregard, dominate, overpass, disdain, miss, slight, pass, stomach, whitewash, forgive, excuse, take, handle, condone, top, inspectExamples from the Web for overlook
Contemporary Examples
In the book, Tavris and Aronson argue that the same ability to overlook minor flaws in a marriage leads to overlooking major ones.
Many were just eager to forget, absolve, or overlook serious accusations, simply because doing so would be hugely convenient.
But it is also a mistake to overlook some important differences.
In reading about ASHA, its current location is hard to overlook—Research Triangle, North Carolina.
Moments like these could cause ticket-buyers to squirm or, perhaps, reflect on their own capacity to overlook and forgive.
Woody Allen’s ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ Musical and the Moral Responsibility of an ArtistBrian Spitulnik
April 10, 2014
Historical Examples
Our friend will overlook the matter if you do but say that you have acted in heat and haste.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
You might overlook the most important part of my paraphernalia; and really I am not damaged.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
It'll be an advantage if she is Irish, but I'll overlook it if she isn't.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
From the hill, we could overlook the river, and the adjacent country.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
He would prize the jewel, and overlook the inferiority of the casket.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
overlook
- to fail to notice or take into account
- to disregard deliberately or indulgently
- to look at or over from abovethe garden is overlooked by the prison
- to afford a view of from abovethe house overlooks the bay
- to rise above
- to look after
- to look at carefully
- to bewitch or cast the evil eye upon (someone)
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- a high place affording a view
- an act of overlooking
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for overlook
v.
mid-14c., "to examine, scrutinize, inspect," from over- + look (v.). Another Middle English sense was "to peer over the top of." These two literal senses have given rise to the two main modern meanings. Meaning "to look over or beyond and thus not see," via notion of "to choose to not notice" is first recorded 1520s. Seemingly contradictory sense of "to watch over officially, keep an eye on, superintend" is from 1530s. Related: Overlooked; overlooking. In Shekaspeare's day, overlooking also was a common term for "inflicting the evil eye on" (someone or something).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper