overlook

1 of 2

verb

over·​look ˌō-vər-ˈlu̇k How to pronounce overlook (audio)
overlooked; overlooking; overlooks

transitive verb

1
: to look over : inspect
took down a map and overlooked itEileen Duggan
2
a
: to look down upon from above
do not like living near water, and prefer not to be overlookedG. W. B. Huntingford
b
: to rise above or afford a view of
the mountains that overlook the village
3
a
: to look past : miss
whose sharpened senses overlook nothingRichard Semon
b
: ignore sense 1
learned to overlook her boyfriend's minor faults
c
: excuse sense 2
minor misdemeanors may sometimes be overlookedPunch
4
: superintend, oversee
The chaperones will overlook the students' behavior on the field trip.
5
: to look on with the evil eye : bewitch
a baby that has been overlooked will begin to pine awayF. G. Cassidy

overlook

2 of 2

noun

over·​look ˈō-vər-ˌlu̇k How to pronounce overlook (audio)
: a place from which one may look down on a scene below
plenty of overlooks and trailsThelma H. Bell
Choose the Right Synonym for overlook

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of overlook in a Sentence

Verb The detective overlooked an important clue. Such a crime should not be overlooked. The quarterback was overlooked by other teams. the mountains that overlook the village We rented a suite that overlooks the lake. Noun just down the road there's a great overlook where you can get a panoramic view of the valley below
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Offers units overlooking Skid Row, many stubbornly vacant. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Highlights include a stylish living room displaying an oversized wood-burning brick fireplace with a floating hearth, plus sliding glass doors spilling out to a fenced wraparound deck overlooking the Pacific. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 As Maximus and Lucy stand side-by-side overlooking the wasteland, Maximus offers his own pithy observation. Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 The impact of sinking land has been overlooked, said Leonard Ohenhen, the lead author of the study and a doctoral researcher at Virginia Tech. Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 The landlord likes his mother and was willing to overlook her son’s eviction, Alex said. Aidan Gardiner, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Lures and flies that mimic crayfish are often overlooked for trout, but these crustaceans are one of their favorite prey items. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024 The mezzanine overlooks the dance floor, and has sofas and a bar. Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 My days began with a cappuccino overlooking the iconic skyline from the terrace of Sublimis Boutique Hotel, my home base atop the promenade, a.k.a. Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
Cruise down the Highland Scenic Highway, a stretch of elevated backcountry road offering stunning views at four scenic overlooks. Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 This oceanfront, adults-only all-inclusive overlooks one of the best beaches in Cancun, with a wide selection of excellent restaurants, sparkling pools, and gorgeous ocean-view rooms. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2024 The park rangers start early, just after first light and before the park opens, counting from boardwalks and overlooks while the manatees are undisturbed and still. USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2024 News crews set up on an overlook on the Israeli side of the border fence less than a mile from Beit Hanoun in the northeast corner of the enclave. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023 Yet a press conference that saw the president express righteous anger over the invoking of his son’s death and offer a comprehensive overlook at the conflict in the Middle East was undercut by another high-profile gaffe involving a foreign leader. Akayla Gardner, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2024 Away from the terminal, a fourth parallel runway is being worked on and a new airport overlook will open in the summer. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2024 There’s also a longer trail that leads to an overlook of the falls. Kae Lani Palmisano, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Visitors can step out to the highest scenic overlook in Montana for views of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Caroline Tell, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overlook.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overlook was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near overlook

Cite this Entry

“Overlook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overlook. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overlook

verb
over·​look
ˌō-vər-ˈlu̇k
1
: to look over : inspect
2
a
: to look down upon from above
b
: to provide a view of from above
the mountain overlooks a lake
3
a
: to fail to see : miss
b
: to pay no attention to : ignore
overlook a beginner's mistakes

More from Merriam-Webster on overlook

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