Meaning & use
overlooking
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“overlooking” is a form of “overlook”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Failing to notice something, or choosing not to react to a fault or offense.
Grammar: Takes an object: overlook a mistake.
Patterns
- overlook something
- overlook a fact
- overlook an error
She overlooked a small error in the report.
He overlooked his friend's rude comment.
The committee overlooked the warning signs.
verbtransitive
Having a view over something from a higher or nearby position.
Grammar: Often used in the -ing form after a noun: a room overlooking the sea.
Patterns
- overlook something
- overlook a view
The hotel room overlooks the park.
Our balcony overlooks the beach.
A castle overlooking the valley.
Word forms
| third person singular | overlooks |
|---|---|
| past tense | overlooked |
| past participle | overlooked |
| -ing form | overlooking |
Common combinations
- overlook a mistake
- The teacher overlooked a mistake in my essay.
- overlook the fact that
- We overlooked the fact that the store was closed.
- overlook the sea
- The house overlooks the sea.
- overlook an error
- The editor overlooked an error in the final draft.
Synonyms and how they differ
- miss
- Use 'miss' when you fail to see or hear something by accident; 'overlook' often suggests you could have seen it but didn't pay attention.
- ignore
- Use 'ignore' when you deliberately pay no attention; 'overlook' can be deliberate or accidental.
- excuse
- Use 'excuse' when you forgive a fault; 'overlook' is more neutral and means you choose not to react.
Opposites
Word family
- overlook verb
- base form
Commonly confused: overlooking or oversee?
overlooking vs oversee
'Oversee' means to supervise or watch over work; 'overlook' means to fail to notice or to have a view over.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The manager decided to ___ the employee's late arrival because it was his first day.
Choose one answer.
'Overlook' fits because it means to choose not to react to a fault. 'Oversee' means to supervise, which does not fit the context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overlooking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.