How to Use "Overlook" in a Sentence
What Does "Overlook" Mean?
"Overlook" has three distinct meanings, and the one you intend depends on context:
- To fail to notice or consider something (the most common usage)
- To have a view from above
- To choose to ignore or excuse something
Understanding which meaning applies is essential for clear writing.
Sentence Examples by Meaning
Meaning 1: Fail to Notice
- Don't overlook the fine print in the contract before signing.
- The hiring committee overlooked her application by mistake.
- It's easy to overlook small grammatical errors when you're editing your own work.
Meaning 2: Have a View From Above
- The balcony overlooks the entire harbor.
- We stayed at a cabin that overlooked a valley filled with wildflowers.
- Their office windows overlook the park on the building's south side.
Meaning 3: Choose to Ignore
- I'm willing to overlook the late submission this one time.
- The teacher overlooked his talking during class because he'd been having a difficult week.
- She decided to overlook the rude comment and move on with the conversation.
"Overlook" vs. "Oversee"
These two words are near-opposites despite looking similar. To overlook something means to miss it or ignore it. To oversee something means to supervise or manage it. Confusing these can reverse your intended meaning entirely.
- Wrong: She overlooks a team of twelve engineers. (This says she ignores them.)
- Right: She oversees a team of twelve engineers.
"Overlook" vs. "Look Over"
"Look over" means to review or examine. "Overlook" means to miss or ignore. Again, mixing these up creates the opposite meaning.
- Can you look over my resume? (review it)
- Don't overlook any typos. (don't miss them)
Tips for Using "Overlook" Correctly
Because "overlook" carries multiple meanings, surrounding context matters. If there's any chance of ambiguity, add a word or two for clarity. Instead of "she overlooked the building," specify: "she overlooked the building's structural flaws" (missed them) or "her apartment overlooked the building across the street" (had a view of it).
Verb Forms
- Present: overlook / overlooks
- Past: overlooked
- Present participle: overlooking
- The word does not have a standard noun form; use "oversight" for the noun meaning a failure to notice something.
"Overlook" is one of those everyday verbs that carries more complexity than it appears to. Choosing the right context clues makes your intended meaning obvious to readers.
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