Oversees
/ˌoʊvərˈsiːz/
verbB23rd person singular present tense
Definition
To oversee means to carefully watch and direct a process, project, or group of people. When someone oversees something, they are responsible for making sure it happens well and on time. This word is often used for managers or leaders who check work and guide others.
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See It in Action
To supervise or manage a task or group
- •The manager oversees the daily operations of the store.
- •She oversees a team of engineers working on the new project.
- •The teacher oversees the students during the exam.
To watch carefully to ensure correctness or safety
- •The safety officer oversees the construction site to prevent accidents.
- •He oversees the quality of the products before they are shipped.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'oversees' like 'watch,' but with responsibility to guide and control, not just look
- ✓Picture a teacher standing in a classroom, watching students do their work and helping if needed
- ✓It's the feeling of being in charge and making sure everything goes well, like a captain steering a ship
- ✓Sounds like 'over-sees' → imagine someone looking over everything carefully from above, like a bird watching the land
- ✓Think of a movie director who oversees the filming to make sure all parts fit together
- ✓NOT like 'see' (just looking), 'oversees' includes managing and responsibility
- ✓NOT like 'do' (doing the work yourself), 'oversees' means watching others do the work and guiding them
- ✓NOT like 'ignore' (not paying attention), 'oversees' means active attention and control
Try Other Words
- •Supervises: manages or directs people or work (Use when focusing on managing people or tasks)
- •Manages: controls or organizes something (Use when emphasizing control and organization)
- •Monitors: checks or observes something carefully (Use when focusing on watching progress or condition)
- •Directs: gives orders or guides actions (Use when focusing on giving instructions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'over-' (above, beyond) + 'see' (to look)
- •Etymology: From Old English 'overseon,' meaning to look over or inspect
- •Historical development: Originally meant to look above or beyond; developed to mean supervising or managing from a higher position
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe the act of managing or supervising tasks, projects, or people in work and organization contexts
Reflect & Connect
•How does the role of someone who oversees a project differ from someone who only does the work?
•Can you think of situations in your life where you have overseen something, even in a small way?
Fill in the blanks
1.A good leader oversees the team to make sure everyone ___ their tasks correctly.
2.The teacher oversees the exam room to prevent any ___ during the test.
3.When someone oversees a project, they are responsible for both ___ and results.
4.Unlike just watching, overseeing requires ___ and sometimes giving instructions.
5.The manager oversees the budget and ___ if expenses are too high.
6.Safety officers oversee construction sites to ___ accidents and problems.
7.If a person only watches quietly without helping, they do not really ___ the work.