overlook

overlook — verb

1. if a room, hill, or building overlooks a place, it is above that place and gives

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

if a room, hill, or building overlooks a place, it is above that place and gives a clear view across it.

Example

The kitchen window overlooks the school yard and the old gym.

pattern: window overlooks a place

A white hotel overlooks the harbor from the top of the cliff.

building subject: overlooks the harbor

Common collocations
  • overlook the harbor
  • overlook the valley
  • overlook the river
  • overlook the square
  • overlook the garden
Synonyms
  • look out over

    a descriptive phrase that states the same physical relationship more directly

  • face

    broader and does not always suggest height or a wide view

  • command

    formal and often used for an impressive view from above

Grammar Patterns

overlook + place/area

building/window/balcony + overlook + place

Usage Note

Subject is usually a place or part of a place, such as a hotel, room, balcony, or hill, rather than a person. The object is the area that can be seen from the higher position.

Common Mistakes

Our hotel overlooks to the lake.
Our hotel overlooks the lake.
do not add a preposition before the place you can see.

2. to not notice someone or something, or to leave them out when making a choice, l

2.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to not notice someone or something, or to leave them out when making a choice, list, or judgment.

Example

Lena overlooked one minus sign and got the whole answer wrong.

overlook + small detail

In the rush, the nurse overlooked Sam's name on the second form.

Common collocations
  • overlook a detail
  • overlook a mistake
  • overlook a warning sign
  • overlook a name
  • overlook a candidate
Synonyms
  • miss

    the closest everyday word for failing to notice something

  • omit

    stresses leaving something out, especially from a list, plan, or document

  • ignore

    often sounds more intentional than 'overlook'

Antonyms
  • notice

    to see or become aware of something

  • include

    to make sure a person or thing is part of the group or plan

Grammar Patterns

overlook + detail/problem

overlook + person/candidate

Usage Note

Often used for details, names, warning signs, or suitable people. Distinguish from sense 3: in this sense the person usually did not notice the thing at all, while sense 3 is a deliberate choice not to react.

Common Mistakes

I overlooked to add your name.
I overlooked your name.' or 'I forgot to add your name.
'overlook' normally takes the thing not noticed as its object.
The team ignored Maya by accident.
The team overlooked Maya by accident.
'ignore' usually sounds deliberate, but 'overlook' can describe an unintended omission.

3. to see that something is wrong or annoying but decide to let it pass.

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to see that something is wrong or annoying but decide to let it pass.

Example

The teacher overlooked Ben's late homework because his father was ill.

overlook + fault because of circumstances

During the holiday rush, small delays were overlooked at the bus station.

passive: be overlooked

Common collocations
  • overlook a fault
  • overlook a mistake
  • overlook bad behavior
  • overlook a delay
  • overlook an insult
Synonyms
  • excuse

    often suggests openly accepting a reason for the fault

  • ignore

    can be close, but it does not always carry the idea of forgiveness

  • let pass

    focuses on choosing not to stop or punish the behavior

Antonyms
  • challenge

    to object to the wrong thing instead of letting it continue

  • punish

    to react by giving a penalty

Grammar Patterns

overlook + fault/mistake

overlook + rude behavior/delay

Usage Note

Object is usually something wrong, annoying, or imperfect, such as a mistake, delay, or rude act. Distinguish from sense 2, where the speaker failed to notice the thing instead of deciding to excuse it.

Common Mistakes

The teacher overlooked that Ben was late.
The teacher overlooked Ben's lateness.
this sense usually takes the fault itself as the object.
My boss ignored one small mistake kindly.
My boss overlooked one small mistake.
'overlook' is a more natural verb when someone chooses not to react to a fault.

overlook — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

For verb sense 2, overlook is close to miss, ignore, and omit, but the focus is slightly different. Miss is the most everyday choice for failing to notice something: you might miss a sign or miss a typo. Overlook often sounds a little more formal and can also mean leaving a person out of consideration, as in a job decision. Ignore is usually more deliberate: if you ignore a warning, you saw it but chose not to act. Omit is best when something is left out of a list, report, or plan. For example, you might overlook a detail in a contract, ignore a rude message, but omit an address from a form.

overlook ↗miss ↗ignore ↗omit ↗

Etymology

English

Overlook was formed in English from over and look. Its older, literal idea was looking from a higher place across something below. From that physical sense, English later developed figurative meanings such as failing to notice something and choosing to let a fault pass without reacting to it.