overlook
verb (used with object)
to fail to notice, perceive, or consider.
was overlooking
-
past progressiveof overlook.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Fury quickly dismissed the suggestion he was overlooking his opponent.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
If an editor long ago thought there wasn’t enough going on there, he was overlooking William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, a fictional place with boundless stories.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
In spring 2020, Dr. Gill said, he became concerned that Connecticut was overlooking Covid-19 deaths, especially among nursing home residents whose complicated medical histories can sometimes obscure causes of death.
From New York Times ● Sep. 9, 2021
Sonkawade was overlooking his responsibilities in the lab, said Devesh Kumar Avasthi, a senior scientist who was one of the evaluators of Sonkawade's performance.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2021
It was at this point that Lefty, who was now brushing off his jacket, called his sister’s attention to something she was overlooking.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
