oversee

[ oh-ver-see ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·saw, o·ver·seen, o·ver·see·ing.

1. to direct (work or workers); supervise; manage:

   He was hired to oversee the construction crews.

2. to see or observe secretly or unintentionally:

   We happened to oversee the burglar leaving the premises. He was overseen stealing the letters.

3. to survey or watch, as from a higher position.
4. to look over; examine; inspect.

oversee

/ ˌəʊvəˈsiː /

verb

1. to watch over and direct; supervise
2. to watch secretly or accidentally

Word History and Origins

Origin of oversee¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English overseen, Old English ofersēon; equivalent to over- + see ¹

Example Sentences

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, has been picked by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee the U.S. intelligence community.

From Salon

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is the nominee for attorney general which is quite a coincidence considering that he was entangled in a sex trafficking investigation by the DOJ, the department he’ll oversee should he land the job.

From Los Angeles Times

Who better to oversee the United States Defense Department than someone with experience counting down.

From Los Angeles Times

Some lawmakers in Washington DC appeared initially perplexed by Hegseth's appointment to oversee one of the most complex bureaucracies in the world.

From BBC

Trump became infuriated with Sessions after he recused himself from overseeing the Russia probe, and his top deputy, Rod Rosenstein, appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation with independence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• command
• manage
• supervise
• survey
• watch