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.
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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
Derived 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.
Harry Brook is England's vice-captain, yet has been overlooked.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Adamson says that one piece of the puzzle that gets consistently overlooked is that a significant number of Americans who want children simply cannot have them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
But instead of a broad market selloff, Roberge expects investors to continue shifting money toward value stocks, defensive sectors, and overlooked parts of the market for at least a few more weeks.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
It was just really watching a master at work, and the rest of our crew as well; not a detail was ever overlooked.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Line has traditionally been admired for its descriptive value, so that its expressive potential is easily overlooked.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
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.
