overlooked
Americanadjective
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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.
“We are the breadbasket of the world but we’ve been overlooked for too long,” said Andrea Shabaglian, a vice president of the Fresno Republican women’s group.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
But Rolf von Kiaer, a friend and antiquities dealer, wrote in a tribute that Gradel was “completely uninterested in profit but driven by a desire that an overlooked object should be properly appreciated once more.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Emery - bizarrely overlooked in the Premier League's Manager of the Season nominations - spoke to his players on Saturday morning, a debrief following Friday's 4-2 win over Liverpool which sealed Champions League qualification.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
"These differences highlight the importance of considering sex as a key variable in dementia research," said Pa. "Sex differences are profoundly overlooked among many leading causes of death like Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer."
From Science Daily • May 20, 2026
Going around ignored, unseen, and overlooked was right up our alley.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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.
