Meaning & use
oversees
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“oversees” is a form of “oversee”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbtransitive
Watches over a job, group or process to make sure it is done properly.
Grammar: Takes an object: she oversees the project.
Patterns
- someone oversees something
- oversee the work of someone
She oversees a team of twelve engineers.
The committee oversees all spending in the department.
He oversees the building work to make sure it follows the plans.
Word forms
| base form | oversee |
|---|---|
| past tense | oversaw |
| past participle | overseen |
| -ing form | overseeing |
Common combinations
- oversees operations
- The director oversees operations at all three factories.
- oversees the project
- A senior architect oversees the project from start to finish.
- oversees a team
- She oversees a team of nurses on the night shift.
- personally oversees
- The chef personally oversees every dish leaving the kitchen.
- oversees the process
- An independent panel oversees the process of selecting winners.
Synonyms and how they differ
- supervises
- Supervises suggests close, direct watching of people at work, while oversees can be more distant and general.
- manages
- Manages includes making decisions and running things, while oversees stresses monitoring.
- directs
- Directs means giving orders and setting the course, which is stronger than simply overseeing.
- supervises closely
- This phrase is more hands-on than oversees.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: oversees or overseas?
oversees vs overseas
Overseas is an adverb or adjective meaning abroad, as in she works overseas. Oversees is a verb meaning supervises.
Practice
Our operations manager ____ the daily work of all five warehouses.
Choose one answer.
Oversees means supervises. Overseas means abroad, and overlooks means fails to notice or looks out over.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “oversees”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.