Oversee vs Overlook

While both the words oversee and overlook seem to have similar meanings, their real meanings are entirely different. Oversee (verb) means supervising and is often a word used professionally. Overlook means failing to notice something that is important (overlook also means having a look at something from above, this meaning is hardly in existence). The following examples will give you crystal-clear clarity on the difference between oversee and overlook.

Use of 'overlook' in example sentences:

1. It was shocking to see the boss of my company dismissing one of our colleagues as he overlooked a customer who came there for assistance.

2. Most of the IT companies will always overlook the problems faced by their employees when they are forced work in rotational shifts.

3. India's most and ever loved legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar was blessed to have a coach like Ramakant Achrekar who never overlooked a single error that the little master made during his training sessions. This is evident from Tendulkar's remarkable batting technique.

4. Many people overlook the joy and excitement that one could only get while reading books.

5. The jury have expressed their dissatisfaction with the police as they have overlooked a hint in the murder case, which later proved to be decisive.

6. Jessica divorced James as he deliberately overlooked his wife's longing for a diamond ring that was just worth 10 million dollars.

7. The company where I work suffered a loss of 10 crore rupees. Had they not overlooked the technical problem that I already informed them, this huge loss would have been avoided.

Use of 'oversee' in example sentences:

8. Williams was so excited as he was given the authority to oversee all the employees in the company during the absence of his superior, John.

9. Since the tragic demise of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, late Dr. J. Jayalalitha, there seems to be absolutely no clarity on who actually has been overseeing the A.I.A.D.M.K. party and its troops.

10. The intelligence activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are always overseen by the Director of National Intelligence, Daniel Coats.