What does "overlook" mean?

1. (to fail to notice) to miss something by accident or not see a detail. 2. (to forgive a mistake) to see a mistake but decide to ignore it or not punish the person. 3. (to have a view of) to be in a high place that looks down over something else. 4. (a viewpoint) a high place where people can stop to look at a view. 5. (to supervise) to watch over or manage a piece of work.

How do you use "overlook"?

In modern English, 'oversee' is almost always used instead of 'overlook' for this meaning.

overlook

v. · n.

US //ˈoʊvɝˌɫʊk// over·look

1 to fail to notice (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to miss something by accident or not see a detail.

to fail to notice or consider something, often due to lack of attention or oversight.

Example

I am sorry I overlooked your name on the guest list yesterday.

Example

In their haste to complete the audit, the accountants overlooked several minor discrepancies that later proved to be significant.
- notice
- spot
2 to forgive a mistake (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to see a mistake but decide to ignore it or not punish the person.

to deliberately ignore a minor offence or error rather than providing censure.

Example

The teacher decided to overlook his lateness because it was his first time.

Example

While the manager was willing to overlook a single instance of tardiness, she could not ignore a consistent pattern of unprofessional behaviour.
- punish
- condemn

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3 to have a view of (v.)
B1 Intermediate

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

to provide a view from a higher physical position.

Example

Our hotel room overlooks the beautiful blue ocean.

Example

The penthouse apartment overlooks the entire city skyline, offering residents an unobstructed view of the sunset every evening.
- face
- look out on
4 a viewpoint (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate American English

a high place where people can stop to look at a view.

a designated place or high point that affords a wide view of the landscape below.

Example

We stopped at the mountain overlook to take some photos of the valley.

Example

The hiking trail culminates at a rocky overlook where visitors can observe the confluence of the two rivers.
5 to supervise (v.)
C1 Advanced Archaic

to watch over or manage a piece of work.

to supervise or oversee a task or group of people.

Example

In the old story, the master stayed to overlook the building of the ship.

Example

The foreman was appointed to overlook the masonry work, ensuring that every stone was laid according to the architect's specific instructions.

Usage

In modern English, 'oversee' is almost always used instead of 'overlook' for this meaning.
- supervise
- oversee

Origin

From Middle English overloken; equivalent to over- + look.