Overlook vs. Mislook — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 19, 2024
"Overlook" is correct, meaning to miss seeing or to ignore, while "Mislook" is incorrect.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Overlook or Mislook
How to spell Overlook?
Overlook
Correct Spelling
Mislook
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
"Overlook" is to fail to see; "over" is a prefix meaning above, whereas "mis" suggests a mistake but is not paired with "look" in this case.
You can overlook a detail, but you can't "mislook" it; "mislook" is simply not recognized.
"Over" in "overlook" suggests looking above or beyond, unlike "mislook" which is not a standard term.
To overlook is to miss something in sight or judgement; "over" is the correct prefix here, not "mis."
Consider "overlook" as in overseeing something, which is a legitimate compound word, unlike "mislook."
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How Do You Spell Mislook Correctly?
Incorrect: Don't mislook the impact of a good diet on your health.
Correct: Don't overlook the impact of a good diet on your health.
Incorrect: I don't want to mislook any important details.
Correct: I don't want to overlook any important details.
Incorrect: It's easy to mislook something when you're in a hurry.
Correct: It's easy to overlook something when you're in a hurry.
Overlook Definitions
To fail to notice or consider something.
He overlooked the last step and stumbled.
To excuse or pardon a mistake.
They decided to overlook the minor error.
To ignore or disregard intentionally.
She chose to overlook his rude comments.
To have a view from above.
The castle overlooks the entire valley.
To supervise or oversee.
As a manager, he overlooks ten employees.
Fail to notice
He seems to have overlooked one important fact
Have a view of from above
The chateau overlooks fields of corn and olive trees
Supervise
He was overlooking his harvest men
Bewitch with the evil eye
They told them they were overlooked by some unlucky Person
A commanding position or view
The overlook to the townsite
To look over or at from a higher place
We overlooked the valley from the cliff.
To afford a view over
The tower overlooks the sea.
To fail to notice or consider; miss
Even the editor overlooked this error.
To ignore deliberately or indulgently; disregard
I'll overlook that remark if you leave now.
To look over; examine
Overlook a manuscript for errors.
To manage; supervise
Overlook farm hands.
An elevated place that affords an extensive view
A scenic overlook.
A vista or point that gives a beautiful view.
To offer a view (of something) from a higher position.
Our hotel room overlooks the lake.
To fail to notice; to look over and beyond (anything) without seeing it.
These errors were overlooked by the proofreaders.
To pretend not to have noticed (something, especially a mistake or flaw); to pass over (something) without censure or punishment.
I’m not willing to overlook such bad behaviour.
(dated) To look down upon (something) from a place that is over or above.
To overlook a valley from a hill
(archaic) To supervise, oversee; to watch over.
To overlook a gang of laborers
To overlook one who is writing a letter
(archaic) To observe or watch (someone or something) surreptitiously or secretly.
(archaic) To inspect (something); to examine; to look over carefully or repeatedly.
(archaic) To look upon with an evil eye; to bewitch by looking upon; to fascinate.
To look down upon from a place that is over or above; to look over or view from a higher position; to be situated above, so as to command a view of; as, to overlook a valley from a hill; a hotel room that overlooks the marketplace.
[Titan] with burning eye did hotly overlook them.
Hence: To supervise; to watch over; sometimes, to observe secretly; as, to overlook a gang of laborers; to overlook one who is writing a letter.
To inspect; to examine; to look over carefully or repeatedly.
The time and care that are requiredTo overlook and file and polish well.
To look upon with an evil eye; to bewitch by looking upon; to fascinate.
If you trouble me I will overlook you, and then your pigs will die.
To look over and beyond (anything) without seeing it; to miss or omit in looking; to fail to notice; to fail to observe; as, to overlook a mistake in addition; to overlook a missing bolt.
To refrain from bestowing notice or attention upon; to disregard or deliberately ignore; to pass over without censure or punishment; to excuse or pardon (a fault, error, or misdeed).
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked.
They overlook truth in the judgments they pass.
The pardoning and overlooking of faults.
A high place affording a good view
Look past, fail to notice
Be oriented in a certain direction;
The house looks out on a tennis court
The apartment overlooks the Hudson
Leave undone or leave out;
How could I miss that typo?
The workers on the conveyor belt miss one out of ten
Look down on;
The villa dominates the town
Watch over;
I am overlooking her work
Overlook Meaning in a Sentence
He tends to overlook the small mistakes his students make.
It's easy to overlook the beauty of your hometown.
It's crucial not to overlook any symptoms you might be experiencing.
Sometimes, people overlook the importance of saying "thank you."
Parents often overlook the creativity of their children.
Many tourists overlook this museum, but it's actually worth a visit.
It's common to overlook the value of silence in our noisy world.
Don't overlook the significance of daily exercise.
Sometimes, it's the things we overlook that end up being the most important.
Don't overlook the power of a simple smile.
It's a mistake to overlook the feedback from your team.
Overlook Idioms & Phrases
Overlook a detail
To miss or ignore a small but potentially important piece of information.
The detective couldn't afford to overlook a detail in the investigation.
Easy to overlook
Something that can be missed or ignored without much effort.
The fine print in contracts is easy to overlook.
Overlook the fact
To ignore or disregard a certain truth or piece of evidence.
You can't overlook the fact that he has no experience in this field.
Overlook the obvious
To miss something that should be noticeable or apparent.
In searching for complex solutions, we often overlook the obvious.
Overlook one's faults
To ignore or dismiss someone's flaws or mistakes.
True friendship is when you can overlook one's faults.
Can't overlook
Cannot ignore or pretend not to see.
The jury can't overlook the evidence against the defendant.
Overlook an opportunity
To fail to recognize or take advantage of a chance or opportunity.
She didn't want to overlook an opportunity to advance in her career.
Overlook at one's peril
To ignore something at one's own risk.
Environmental warnings are something we overlook at our peril.
Overlook from a height
To literally or figuratively look down upon something from above.
The castle overlooks the village from a height.
Overlook in haste
To miss something because of rushing or not taking enough time.
In our rush to finish, we might overlook important details in haste.
Strategically overlook
To intentionally ignore something for strategic reasons.
Sometimes, leaders must strategically overlook minor issues to focus on bigger ones.
To overlook a transgression
To forgive or ignore a wrongdoing.
Sometimes, it's better to overlook a transgression and move on.
Overlook a mistake
To choose not to see or correct an error.
The teacher decided to overlook the mistake as it was minor.
Overlook the shortcomings
To ignore or forgive flaws or deficiencies.
He's always ready to overlook the shortcomings of his friends.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of Overlook?
The verb form is "overlook."
Which vowel is used before Overlook?
There is no vowel before "overlook" as "over-" is a prefix.
Why is it called Overlook?
It is called "overlook" because it combines "over," meaning above, and "look," implying viewing or observing from a higher position.
What is the plural form of Overlook?
The plural form is "overlooks" when used as a noun.
Which conjunction is used with Overlook?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "overlook."
What is the pronunciation of Overlook?
Overlook is pronounced as /ˌoʊvərˈlʊk/.
What is the root word of Overlook?
The root words are "over" and "look."
Is Overlook a noun or adjective?
Overlook is primarily a verb, but can also be a noun.
Is Overlook an abstract noun?
As a noun, "overlook" can be considered concrete or abstract depending on context.
Which preposition is used with Overlook?
Prepositions such as "from" or "by" can be used with "overlook."
Is Overlook a vowel or consonant?
The word "overlook" starts with the vowel "o."
Is Overlook a collective noun?
No, "overlook" is not a collective noun.
How many syllables are in Overlook?
There are three syllables in "overlook."
What is the first form of Overlook?
The first form is "overlook."
What is the singular form of Overlook?
The singular form is "overlook."
Is Overlook a countable noun?
As a noun, "overlook" can be countable.
Is the word Overlook is imperative?
"Overlook" can be used as an imperative verb form.
What part of speech is Overlook?
Overlook is a verb or a noun, depending on context.
What is another term for Overlook?
Another term for "overlook" is "miss" or "disregard."
Which determiner is used with Overlook?
Determiners like "the" or "a" can be used with "overlook."
Is the word “Overlook” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be used as a direct object.
What is the second form of Overlook?
The second form is "overlooked."
How is Overlook used in a sentence?
"Sometimes it's easy to overlook the simplest solution."
Is Overlook an adverb?
No, "overlook" is not an adverb.
Is Overlook a negative or positive word?
"Overlook" can be neutral, negative, or positive based on context.
Is the Overlook term a metaphor?
"Overlook" can be used metaphorically.
Is the word Overlook Gerund?
"Overlooking" is the gerund form of the verb "overlook."
How do we divide Overlook into syllables?
Overlook is divided into syllables as o-ver-look.
What is a stressed syllable in Overlook?
The stressed syllable in "overlook" is the second syllable: look.
What is the third form of Overlook?
The third form is also "overlooked."
Which article is used with Overlook?
The articles "the" or "an" can be used with "overlook."
What is the opposite of Overlook?
The opposite of "overlook" could be "notice" or "heed."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
