oversee

UK: /ˌəʊvə^rˈsiː/ US: /ˌoʊvɚˈsi/ ,(ō′vər sē′)

Inflections of 'oversee' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

oversees

v 3rd person singular

overseeing

v pres p

oversaw

v past

overseen

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•see /ˌoʊvɚˈsi/   v. [~ + object] , -saw, -seen, -see•ing. 

1. to supervise;
   manage:
   He oversaw the project.

o•ver•se•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•see  (ō′vər sē′), v.t., -saw, -seen, -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.

• Middle English overseen, Old English ofersēon. See over-, see¹ bef. 900

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

oversee / ˌəʊvəˈsiː/ verb ( -sees, -seeing, -saw, -seen)(transitive)

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