overlooked
Americanadjective
-
not noticed, or not considered, used, etc..
This collection of songs includes some long overlooked material by the artist.
-
indulgently or generously excused or disregarded, as faults or misbehavior.
We share love in a million different ways—a kind word or friendly smile here, an overlooked offense or an act of service there.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of overlooked
Explanation
Something that's overlooked is either not seen or deliberately ignored. If you find a plastic egg full of stale jelly beans in June, it may be an overlooked prize from April's Easter egg hunt. When you disregard, pass over, or fail to notice something, you can call it overlooked. Your best friend's overlooked faults might include her tendency to be late and her annoying laugh — you ignore both because you like her so much. This adjective stems from the verb overlook, which is currently defined as "fail to notice" but originally meant "peer over the top of" or "inspect."
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.
The EAC is one of dozens of multimember commissions that make up an overlooked part of the federal government.
From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026
And breakout cast member Ashley Padilla was overlooked too, her comic timing apparently too absurd for voters’ tastes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
"For a long time... their voices have been ignored, and their needs have been overlooked."
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
Such discussions contain little in the way of “pure news,” and therefore can be overlooked as you search for what is truly new — and potentially more profitable.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 4, 2026
But for one reason or another, the zero was overlooked, and it stayed hidden in the code.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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.
