oversees

Oversees is the third-person singular present tense of the verb oversee. It means to supervise, manage, or direct the operations, activities, or personnel in a project, organization, or process. When someone oversees a team, they are responsible for guiding work, ensuring compliance, and maintaining standards.

The word derives from over and see, with see used in the sense of watching or supervising. Related terms include overseer (a person who oversees) and oversight (the act of supervising or, alternatively, an error or omission). The adjective form is not common, but the noun form oversight is widely used in both managerial and regulatory contexts.

In usage, oversee appears in business, government, education, and project management. Examples: a manager oversees daily operations; a committee oversees safety compliance; a principal oversees curricula and assessment. In many contexts, oversee implies active supervision and accountability, rather than merely observing.

Common distinctions include the contrast with overlook. Oversee implies deliberate supervision and direction, while overlook can mean either to supervise loosely or to miss something. The term oversight, depending on context, can refer to supervisory duties or to an unintentional omission. This nuance is important in formal writing and organizational communication.