supervise
SOO-puh-vyz
Supervise (verb) means to oversee and direct people or a task. Example: “She supervises a team of twelve engineers.”
verb
1
To oversee and direct people or a task.
"Without someone to supervise them, the group will lack direction."
"She supervises a team of twelve engineers."
"A lifeguard must supervise the pool at all times."
"The knowledge worker may have a supervisor, but he or she is never supervised in the same way that a manual or process worker is supervised."
— David I. Ben-Tovim, Process Redesign for Health Care Using Lean Thinking (2017)
"I had learned a lot about supervising by observing other supervisors—the good things and the not-so-good things they did."
— Kathryn M. Johnson, The Insider's Guide to Supervising Government Employees (2012)
How to use supervise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo watch over and direct work or people to make sure things are done properly.
Common pairings
supervise staff
closely supervised
supervise construction
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- supervises
- Past tense
- supervised
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ a team of twelve engineers.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin supervisus, from super- ("over") + videre ("to see") — literally "to oversee." A doublet of survey.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for supervise
See all rhymes for supervise →Frequently asked questions
What does “supervise” mean?
The word “supervise” means to oversee and direct people or a task. In plain terms, to watch over and direct work or people to make sure things are done properly.
How do you pronounce “supervise”?
“Supervise” is pronounced SOO-puh-vyz (/ˈsu.pɚˌvaɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “supervise” in a sentence?
Here is “supervise” used in a sentence: “She supervises a team of twelve engineers.”
What is another word for “supervise”?
Words with a similar meaning to “supervise” include superintend.
What part of speech is “supervise”?
“Supervise” is a verb.
Where does the word “supervise” come from?
The word “supervise” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin supervisus, from super- ("over") + videre ("to see") — literally "to oversee." A doublet of survey.
Is “supervise” a common word?
“Supervise” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
