# overlooked

/ˈoʊvɝˌɫʊkt/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəlˈʊkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overlooked
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to fail to notice

verb · CEFR B2

to miss something by accident or fail to see it.

For teachers: to fail to notice, perceive, or consider something, often due to a lack of attention.

- I was so busy that I overlooked a few small mistakes in the report.
- The investigators admitted they had overlooked several crucial pieces of evidence during the initial sweep of the crime scene.

Usage: Transitive; always takes a direct object.

### 2. to ignore on purpose

verb · CEFR B2

to choose to ignore a mistake or bad behaviour.

For teachers: to deliberately ignore or condone an offence or error.

- The teacher decided to overlook his lateness because he is usually on time.
- The manager was willing to overlook minor procedural errors provided that the final output met the client's strict quality standards.

### 3. to have a view of

verb · CEFR B2

to be in a high place that looks down over something else.

For teachers: to provide a view from a higher position; to look down upon from above.

- Our hotel room overlooked the beautiful blue ocean.
- The penthouse suite overlooked the entire city skyline, offering an unobstructed view of the cathedral and the river.

### 4. missed or ignored

adjective · CEFR B2

describes something that people did not notice or did not give enough attention to.

For teachers: referring to something that has been missed, ignored, or not given its due importance.

- She felt like an overlooked member of the team despite her hard work.
- The documentary highlights the stories of overlooked female scientists whose contributions were ignored for decades.

## Examples

- The manager overlooked a small mistake in the report.
- The committee decided to overlook his lack of experience because his portfolio was so impressive.
- While the architect's plan was visually stunning, he had overlooked several critical safety regulations that eventually forced a complete redesign of the building's foundation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.