overlooked

American  

[oh-ver-lookt] / ˌoʊ vərˈlʊkt /

adjective

1. not noticed, or not considered, used, etc..

   This collection of songs includes some long overlooked material by the artist.

2. 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.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of overlook.

Other Word Forms

• unoverlooked adjective

Etymology

Origin of overlooked

overlook ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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

Hasty taxpayers could be leaving money on the table because of overlooked deductions and credits.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

The fund's founders believed the vital role the men played in the rescue had been woefully overlooked.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

"This work effectively rules out explanations of the Hubble tension that rely on a single overlooked error in local distance measurements," the authors conclude.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Both have caught the eye of U.K.-based Palliser, which has built stakes in the two companies, and described them as overlooked and undervalued.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Constantin's room had a balcony, and the balcony overlooked the river, and we could hear the hooing of the tugs down in the darkness.

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

Related Words

• forgotten
• neglected
• unnoticed