supervise
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to direct or oversee the performance or operation of
-
to watch over so as to maintain order, etc
Usage
What does supervise mean? Supervise means to oversee, watch over, and provide direction for someone or something. You can supervise a project or process as it’s happening, but most of the time the word refers to supervising people, especially parents supervising their children or a manager or supervisor supervising their employees. The noun form of supervise is supervision. Someone being supervised is said to be under supervision. When it’s used in the context of adults watching children, the word often appears in the phrases parental supervision and adult supervision. Children or other people who can’t be left alone are said to need constant supervision. When they are left alone, they’re said to be unsupervised. The adjective form supervisory describes things that involve supervision, such as in the phrases supervisory role and supervisory capacity. Example: The key to supervising your employees effectively is giving them enough space to do their jobs, instead of constantly standing over their shoulders.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
supervisionnoun
-
presuperviseverb (used with object)
-
nonsupervisingadjective
-
quasi-supervisedadjective
-
unsupervisedadjective
-
well-supervisedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
supervisesimple
-
supervisessimple
-
have supervisedperfect
-
has supervisedperfect
-
am supervisingprogressive
-
are supervisingprogressive
-
is supervisingprogressive
-
have been supervisingperfect progressive
-
has been supervisingperfect progressive
Past
-
supervisedsimple
-
had supervisedperfect
-
was supervisingprogressive
-
were supervisingprogressive
-
had been supervisingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of supervise
First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin supervīsus “overseen,” past participle of supervidēre “to oversee,” from super- super- + vidēre “to see”; see also wit 2
Explanation
If your mother asks you to supervise your little brother and his friends, it means she'd like you to keep an eye on them. The verb supervise has origins in the Latin word supervidere, from super-, meaning “over” and videre, meaning “to see.” When you supervise something, it means you oversee the project, managing the people working on it, perhaps by figuring out what needs to be done, assigning the work, and making sure it gets done properly. You serve as the boss when you supervise; other people are the workers.
Vocabulary lists containing supervise
Power Prefix: super-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Common Senses: Vid, Vis ("See")
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Résumé of Active Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
It told the Mumbai police commissioner to supervise the investigation and demanded a status report.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Students either catalog recovered artifacts, most of which are ceramics, or "broken pots," as Anderson described them, or supervise excavation trenches.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
Her sisters Maria and Judith manage the circus and supervise show details, respectively.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
An expert body to supervise risk is a much more promising model than the FDA or product-safety laws.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
This brings Old Hirsch from the sofa, to supervise its making, and the smell is such a relaxation, such a memory of home that the room settles into a happy buzz of conversation.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
The key element is making sure that a physician supervises your visits and is available in person when needed by you or the associate.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026
In May 2024, she joined the Justice and Safety Division of the county counsel’s office, where she supervises civil litigation and advises county departments.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
A boatswain on a merchant ship, who supervises the deck’s seamen and manages equipment like ropes and cables, can earn nearly $5,200 a month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026
He also supervises the Guardian Council, which has the power to vet electoral candidates and veto parliamentary legislation.
From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2026
The thirteen people he supervises, the constant fund-raising, the media appearances.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
“It will be a time for Brett to expand his skill set,” said Brian Adams, another BLS alumnus who once supervised him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
The company currently offers some unsupervised ride-hailing services in Texas’ Austin, Houston and Dallas, along with supervised trips in San Francisco.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
In addition to prison time, Rinsch must serve three years of supervised release, forfeit the $11 million and pay $700 in mandatory special assessments, according to Monday’s announcement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
The alleged irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings made by devotees were first made by Mahipal Singh, who previously supervised the trust's accounts team and is now being called the "whistleblower".
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
When that happened, one of my teachers would tell Miss Pullum—the lady who supervised our school cafeteria—to give me some ice cream.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
It has reminded people to follow water safety advice including not swimming alone, avoiding jumping into open water, supervising children, choosing lifeguarded locations, avoiding alcohol, and follow "Float to Live", external advice.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
She continued that work for three summers before supervising the excavation of a late Roman site this year.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
Paige Osburn is the senior supervising producer of What Next and What Next TBD.
From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2026
“They literally fell head over heels flat into an ongoing operation that we had,” said Robert Zachariasiewicz, the supervising DEA agent who is now at corporate intelligence firm Elicius.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
Grandma was supervising a pan of them on the stove.
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
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.
