oversee

[oh-ver-see]

See more synonyms for oversee on Thesaurus.com

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.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for overseen

Contemporary Examples

He says, “They were overseen by the presidential administration,” adding that additional arrests are likely in the coming weeks.
New Evidence: Russian Spies Backed Kiev's Killers
Jamie Dettmer
April 3, 2014
The Daily Beast will be overseen by managing director Deidre Depke and executive editor John Avlon.
Tina Brown’s Next Big Move
David Freedlander
September 11, 2013
Abbott testified that Williams had overseen the armory and that none of the weapons or anything else had ever gone missing.
Mike McLelland Investigation Focuses on Those the D.A. Prosecuted
Michael Daly
April 3, 2013
Since 2006, the ATF has been overseen by revolving cast of acting directors, none of whom received official Senate confirmation.
Who Is B. Todd Jones, and What Does the ATF Do, Anyway?
Caitlin Dickson
January 17, 2013
He, presumably, would be the one who could have overseen any Secret Service investigation.
Secret Service Targeted by Independent Watchdog
Aram Roston
April 30, 2012

Historical Examples

She might have been overseen from the orchard, but no one ever went in there except to gather the fruit.
Armorel of Lyonesse
Walter Besant
He had overseen the construction of the launch and knew all about it from stem to stern.
The Launch Boys' Cruise in the Deerfoot
Edward S. Ellis
An examination, however, overseen by Roger, and bitterly resented by him.
Portia
Duchess
Ay, sir, a good fellow may sometimes be overseen among friends.
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10 (of 15)
Various
It was overseen by the National Committee, consisting of twenty-four presidents of large international unions.
The Great Steel Strike and its Lessons
William Z. Foster

British Dictionary definitions for overseen

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 overseen

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.

oversee

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Related Words

Examples from the Web for overseen

Contemporary Examples

He says, “They were overseen by the presidential administration,” adding that additional arrests are likely in the coming weeks.

The Daily Beast will be overseen by managing director Deidre Depke and executive editor John Avlon.

Abbott testified that Williams had overseen the armory and that none of the weapons or anything else had ever gone missing.

Since 2006, the ATF has been overseen by revolving cast of acting directors, none of whom received official Senate confirmation.

He, presumably, would be the one who could have overseen any Secret Service investigation.

Historical Examples

She might have been overseen from the orchard, but no one ever went in there except to gather the fruit.

He had overseen the construction of the launch and knew all about it from stem to stern.

An examination, however, overseen by Roger, and bitterly resented by him.

Ay, sir, a good fellow may sometimes be overseen among friends.

It was overseen by the National Committee, consisting of twenty-four presidents of large international unions.

oversee

Word Origin and History for overseen

oversee

v.

Origin of oversee