supervise

supervise — verb

1. to be responsible for watching a person who is doing a task, or a process that i

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to be responsible for watching a person who is doing a task, or a process that is under way, and making sure that the correct methods are followed and the expected quality is reached.

Example

Wei supervises a team of eight engineers who design solar panels.

supervise + team + of + number + role

The whole exam must be supervised by a qualified invigilator.

passive: be supervised by + agent

Common collocations
  • supervise closely
  • supervise carefully
  • supervise properly
  • supervise the work
  • supervise a team
  • supervise children
  • supervise an exam
  • supervise a project
  • supervise staff
  • supervise students
  • directly supervise
  • personally supervise
  • supervise the construction
  • supervise the training
Synonyms
  • oversee

    broader in scope; 'oversee' often refers to managing an entire project or system rather than closely watching individuals at work

  • monitor

    emphasises watching for changes or problems over time, often with less direct authority to give instructions

  • manage

    a wider role that includes planning, organising, and decision-making, not just checking that work is done correctly

Antonyms
  • neglect

    to fail to give enough care or attention to someone or something under your responsibility

Grammar Patterns

supervise + noun phrase (person or activity)

be supervised by + noun phrase

Usage Note

The subject of 'supervise' must be a person or an organisation — not a machine. Security cameras monitor an area; they do not supervise it. Frequently used in workplace, educational, and child-safety contexts.

Common Mistakes

The security camera supervises the entrance.
The security camera monitors the entrance.
Only a person or an organisation can supervise; machines can only monitor.
My boss supervises over my work.
My boss supervises my work.
'Supervise' already contains the sense of oversight; do not add 'over'.
She supervised me to finish the report.
She supervised me while I finished the report.
'Supervise' is not followed by a to-infinitive of purpose; use a 'while' clause instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Supervise' is the most hands-on of this group — it implies watching people closely as they carry out tasks and stepping in to correct mistakes. 'Oversee' takes a broader view: you oversee a project's overall progress without necessarily watching every detail of how people work. 'Monitor' focuses on tracking data, behaviour, or changes over time (e.g. a teacher monitors a student's progress) and carries less authority to intervene. 'Manage' includes planning, budgeting, and organising — it is a larger role of which supervision is only one part. 'Direct' suggests giving orders or guidance about what should be done, whereas 'supervise' checks that directions are being followed. For example, a construction site manager directs the overall workflow, while a senior engineer supervises the welders to ensure safety procedures are followed.

oversee ↗monitor ↗manage ↗direct ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • under the supervision of
  • be responsible for supervising
  • with no one to supervise

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

'Supervise' comes from Latin 'supervidere', formed from 'super-' (over, above) and 'videre' (to see). Its literal meaning is 'to look over'. The word entered English in the late 1400s from the Latin stem 'supervis-', and the noun 'supervisor' appeared soon after. The idea of watching from a position of authority has been central to the word since its earliest use.