overlook
Americanverb (used with object)
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to fail to notice, perceive, or consider.
to overlook a misspelled word.
- Synonyms:
- miss
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to disregard or ignore indulgently, as faults or misconduct.
Only a parent could overlook that kind of behavior.
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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.
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a minor infraction we can overlook this time.
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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
verb
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to fail to notice or take into account
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to disregard deliberately or indulgently
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to look at or over from above
the garden is overlooked by the prison
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to afford a view of from above
the house overlooks the bay
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to rise above
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to look after
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to look at carefully
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to bewitch or cast the evil eye upon (someone)
noun
-
a high place affording a view
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an act of overlooking
Related Words
See slight.
Etymology
Origin of overlook
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.
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
"Jewellery and lockets, people tend to know there's generally value in it. But when it comes to trading cards and collectables, people tend to overlook them."
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
In practice, many firms rely on written disclosures, which clients perhaps understandably often overlook.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
Others argue that investors shouldn’t overlook megacap techs, though.
From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026
Cruelly, callously, admissions committees agreed to overlook serious academic deficiency.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
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.
