overlook

[ verb oh-ver-look; noun oh-ver-look ]

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈlʊk; noun ˈoʊ vərˌlʊk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overlook ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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.

noun

terrain, as on a cliff, that affords an attractive vista or a good view: Miles of landscape could be seen from the overlook.

Nearby words

Origin of overlook

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at over-, look

SYNONYMS FOR overlook

1. miss. See slight.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overlook ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·o·ver·looked, adjective

Can be confusedoverlook oversee oversight

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overlook

In the book, Tavris and Aronson argue that the same ability to overlook minor flaws in a marriage leads to overlooking major ones.
Why Didn’t Camille Dump Bill Cosby?|Amanda Marcotte|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many were just eager to forget, absolve, or overlook serious accusations, simply because doing so would be hugely convenient.
It’s Not Just Cosby: Hollywood’s Long List of Male Scumbags|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it is also a mistake to overlook some important differences.
Opposing Gay Marriage Doesn’t Make You a Crypto-Racist|Jonathan Rauch|April 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In reading about ASHA, its current location is hard to overlook—Research Triangle, North Carolina.
STI Awareness Month Is Nothing More Than a Hallmark Holiday for Condoms|Kent Sepkowitz|April 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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 Artist|Brian Spitulnik|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"If you'll leave off trying to set up science in the place of God we'll overlook your lack of tact," he conceded finally.
The Narrow House|Evelyn Scott
He felt suddenly that for her sake he could overlook some of Mr. Grayson's faults, or at least seek to amend them.
The Candidate|Joseph Alexander Altsheler
He was so unlike the ordinary run of landlords that one could only repose confidence in him and overlook small inattentions.
The Argosy|Various
We are always meekly asked, even by the most supercilious, to overlook shortcomings, and condone.
The Book of Khalid|Ameen Rihani
It was a small part of the deck that I could overlook, but enough for our purpose.
English: Composition and Literature|W. F. (William Franklin) Webster

British Dictionary definitions for overlook

overlook

verb (ˌəʊvəˈlʊk) (tr)

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)

noun (ˈəʊvəˌlʊk) US

a high place affording a view

an act of overlooking

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

overlook

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).

overlook

verb (used with object)

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of overlook

Examples from the Web for overlook

overlook

verb (ˌəʊvəˈlʊk) (tr)

noun (ˈəʊvəˌlʊk) US

overlook