supervise

verb

su·​per·​vise ˈsü-pər-ˌvīz How to pronounce supervise (audio)
supervised; supervising

transitive verb

: to be in charge of : superintend, oversee
supervise a large staff
supervised the ship's daily operations

Examples of supervise in a Sentence

The builder supervised the construction of the house. She supervises a staff of 30 workers.
Recent Examples on the Web Each Weed Wrangle includes an expert who supervises the day’s event and provides education on invasive management. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2024 He was dismissed in February 2023 after an internal investigation criticized him for allegedly failing to properly supervise staff. Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 18 Mar. 2024 Plaintiffs, family members of the three people Mensah killed, also alleged in the suit that each shooting was caused by the Wauwatosa Police Department’s failure to train and supervise its officers properly and its practice of condoning and ratifying the use of excessive force. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 But humans supervise their operation and can intervene if something goes wrong. Paul Scharre, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2024 The sometime attorney, who is supposed to be supervising, ends up moonlighting as an amateur detective. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The company behind the 737 Max, a plane its own test pilots infamously derided as designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, wants to be known for quality and safety once again. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Frank helped supervise an enormous complex for uranium separation at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 The patient was admitted to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment supervised by Dr. Anthony Tomassoni, a toxicologist on staff there. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supervise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin supervisus, past participle of supervidēre, from Latin super- + vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supervise was circa 1645

Dictionary Entries Near supervise

Cite this Entry

“Supervise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supervise. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

supervise

verb
su·​per·​vise ˈsü-pər-ˌvīz How to pronounce supervise (audio)
supervised; supervising
Etymology

from Latin supervisus, past participle of supervidēre "to oversee," from super- "over, above" and vidēre "to see" — related to vision

More from Merriam-Webster on supervise

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