overlook

American

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

verb (used with object)

to fail to notice, perceive, or consider.

to overlook a misspelled word.

Synonyms:

miss
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.

overlook British

verb

to fail to notice or take into account
to disregard deliberately or indulgently
to look at or over from above

the garden is overlooked by the prison
to afford a view of from above

the house overlooks the bay
to rise above
to look after
to look at carefully
to bewitch or cast the evil eye upon (someone)

"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

noun

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

Related Words

See slight.

Etymology

Origin of overlook

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

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.

Josh Tongue – 6 – Encouraging return after being overlooked for the first two Tests.

From BBC

Consumer packaged goods—from food to cleaning products—have been mostly overlooked thus far despite typically serving as a refuge during periods of market stress.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it’s hard to overlook the irony here.

From The Wall Street Journal

Here are some of Citrini’s 26 ideas for 2026, starting with a basket of companies overlooked in the rush to invest in big AI players.

From MarketWatch

Lyon was overlooked for the second Test in Brisbane, but this ground is his home from home.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023