overlooks

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overlooks" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb meaning to look over, such as to watch or survey, or to overlook or disregard. For example: "The balcony in the hotel room overlooked a beautiful lake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This overlooks the fact that the two can rarely be ­separated: a facade could be an integral part of a building's structure, as well as providing its main artistic thrust.

The Guardian - Arts

The organisation's chief executive officer, Ian Wishart, said he would be "disappointed if the big economic and trade push overlooks the poorest 20%" and he vowed to "hold the government to account on this".

The Guardian

+ 57 314 358 29 30, lacasadefrancois.com, doubles from $40, dorms from $18pp, camping from $8pp Marlouric Casa Los Molles, Tilcara, Jujuy Casa Los Molles overlooks the hills of Quebrada de Humahuaca, near the amazing rock formations of Purmamarca and the Argentinian salt flats.

The Guardian - Travel

There were clouds on Tuesday hanging over Ben Nevis, which overlooks Charles Kennedy's croft house near Fort William.

The Guardian

The DPA contains an exemption for domestic use, however, so a householder who has a camera on their property for their own personal use would not be covered by the DPA even if the camera overlooks the street or other public areas near their home.

The Guardian - Opinion

A general, longstanding concern in the children's home sector is that a focus on rules and regulations alone overlooks a crucial aspect of child welfare that cannot be measured.

The Guardian

It has an atmosphere of luxurious meets laid-back, with its crisp covered tables dotting the balcony that overlooks the treetops.

The Guardian - Travel

The crowning glory, however, is the penthouse suite with its private bowling alley and a hot tub that overlooks the Strip.

The Guardian - Travel

But to suggest these shortcomings are the core problem is complacent, and overlooks the real improvements that have taken place in recent years.

The Guardian - Opinion

That experience taught me about the second issue with research on large classes: it overlooks the fact that most classrooms are built for 30 children.

The Guardian

Plan International Australia's chief executive officer, Ian Wishart, said he would be "disappointed if the big economic and trade push overlooks the poorest 20%".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use "overlooks" to either describe a physical view from a high vantage point or to indicate that someone has failed to notice or consider something important.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "overlooks" with "oversee". While both relate to observation, "overlooks" implies either a physical perspective or a failure to notice, whereas "oversee" means to supervise.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overlooks" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. It indicates an action, either describing a physical vantage point or a failure to observe something. Ludwig shows various examples where "overlooks" functions in both senses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Travel

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "overlooks" functions as a verb with two primary meanings: to have a view from above or to fail to notice something important. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It appears frequently in News & Media, Travel, and Formal & Business contexts, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist utilizing it. When using "overlooks", be mindful of its dual meaning and avoid confusion with similar words like "oversee". Proper usage either describes a scenic view or highlights an oversight in reasoning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglects to consider

Implies a failure to take something into account, similar to overlooking an important detail.

fails to acknowledge

Highlights the act of not recognizing or admitting something, akin to overlooking its importance.

disregards

Focuses on the act of ignoring or paying no attention to something.

commands a view of

Emphasizes the visual aspect of overlooking a location, indicating a high vantage point.

provides a panorama of

Stresses the expansive view offered from a particular location, similar to "overlooks".

misses the point of

Highlights a failure to understand the central idea, akin to overlooking its significance.

oversees

This suggests a supervisory role, which can be related to overlooking in the sense of having a broad view.

is in charge of

Implies responsibility and oversight, indirectly connected to the idea of overlooking or managing something.

is blind to

Indicates a lack of awareness or understanding, which is similar to overlooking something important.

is ignorant of

Highlights a lack of knowledge or awareness, similar to overlooking a crucial fact.

FAQs

How can I use "overlooks" in a sentence?

You can use "overlooks" to describe a physical view, like "The hotel balcony "overlooks" the ocean." It can also mean failing to notice something, as in "The report "overlooks" a key piece of evidence."

What's the difference between "overlooks" and "neglects"?

"Overlooks" can mean either failing to notice something or having a view from above. "Neglects", on the other hand, specifically means failing to care for or attend to something properly. The phrases are not interchangeable.

What can I say instead of "overlooks" when describing a view?

Alternatives for describing a view include "commands a view of", "provides a panorama of", or simply "faces", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "overlooks" to mean "fails to notice"?

It's appropriate to use "overlooks" to mean "fails to notice" when discussing oversights or omissions in arguments, analyses, or plans. For example, "The study "overlooks" the environmental impact."