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oversee

[oh-ver-see]
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verb (used with object), o·ver·saw, o·ver·seen, o·ver·see·ing.

to direct (work or workers); supervise; manage: He was hired to oversee the construction crews.
to see or observe secretly or unintentionally: We happened to oversee the burglar leaving the premises. He was overseen stealing the letters.
to survey or watch, as from a higher position.
to look over; examine; inspect.

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RELATED WORDS

inspect, command, shepherd, eye, superintend, overlook, watch, boss, herd, chaperon, survey, skipper, captain, baby-sit, quarterback

Nearby words

  1. overscrupulous,
  2. oversea,
  3. overseas,
  4. overseas cap,
  5. overseas telegram,
  6. overseer,
  7. oversell,
  8. oversensitive,
  9. overset,
  10. oversew

Origin of oversee

before 900; Middle English overseen, Old English ofersēon. See over-, see1
Can be confusedoverlook oversee oversight
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oversaw

British Dictionary definitions for oversaw

oversee

verb -sees, -seeing, -saw or -seen (tr)

to watch over and direct; supervise
to watch secretly or accidentally
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for oversaw

oversee

v.

Old English oferseon "to look down upon, keep watch over, survey, observe;" see over + see (v.). Meaning "to supervise" is attested from mid-15c. The verb lacks the double sense of similar overlook, but this emerges in the noun form oversight. Related: Oversaw; overseen.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper