Why are overlook and oversee opposites, when look and see are synonyms?

Answer 1

i guess the overseers overlooked that one ..

Answer 2

Synonyms For Oversee

Answer 3

Overlook means to miss seeing something (I overlooked the fact that the steam iron was still on and my house burned down.)

Oversee means to be the person responsible (to watch that a process is performed correctly) for seeing something done. (I personally will oversee the shutdown of all fire hazards in the building.)

One means to look, but not find. One means to watch.

Answer 4

How are overlook and oversee opposites? Overlook means to miss; oversee is to supervise.

Answer 5

Overlook means to miss; where as Oversee means to take charge.

Answer 6

"Look" and "see" are synonymous, true, but they aren't the same word.

When used in overlook, the word "look" takes on more of it's overtones of "to gaze in the direction of", like "look over there".
"See", on the other hand, leans toward it's meanings of "to take note of, to recognize (1)" and "To make sure; take care" in the word "oversee".

The difference in look and see can be found in an colloquial definition of overlook: looking at something without actually seeing it.

Answer 7

you overlook a mistake and you :
oversee a meeting

Answer 8

The English language is very quirky. That's what makes it so difficult to learn.

Answer 9

well you can look but not see, and you can see without looking.

Answer 10

Because they are different