Definition of OVERSEE 1: survey, watch 2 :a : inspect, examine b : supervise Examples of OVERSEE * He was hired to oversee design and construction of the new facility. * will oversee the new manufacturing division?

'Oversee' means more to manage. If you are overseeing a building project, it means you are watching over the people and directing them. In the old days, an 'overseer' had more a negative meaning - it referred to a person with a whip that kept people (or slaves) working hard. Today, the verb does not mean anything bad - it just means to act as a manager.

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