Overlook vs Pay no attention to these hypocrites

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Overlook

Top 2,000 (common)C1verb

Pay no attention to these hypocrites

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Overlook
 OverlookPay no attention to these hypocrites
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌəʊvəˈlʊk/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊks/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊkt/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌəʊvərˈlʊk/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊks/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊkt/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊkɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //peɪ nəʊ əˈtɛnʃən tə ðiːz ˈhɪpəkrɪts//🇺🇸 //peɪ noʊ əˈtɛnʃən tə ðiz ˈhɪpəˌkrɪts//
MeaningTo not notice something or to ignore it.Don't focus on these dishonest people.
ExampleFrom the hilltop, you can overlook the entire city in the distance.You should pay no attention to these hypocrites at work.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationscompletely, entirely, largely, cannot, cannot afford to, should not, be easily overlooked, something should not be overlooked, completely, entirely, largely, cannot, cannot afford to, should not, be easily overlooked, something should not be overlookedpay attention, pay compliments, pay respects
Antonymsnotice, acknowledge, spot-
Common mistakes'Overlook' used as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'overlook' with 'oversee', which means to supervise., Using 'overlook' with an incorrect preposition (e.g. 'overlook at something').Using 'pay attention to' instead of 'pay no attention to'., Confusing 'hypocrites' with similar-sounding words like 'hypotheticals'.
Usage notesCommonly used when referring to missed details or ignoring responsibilities. Appropriate in both written and spoken English. Generally not used in very formal contexts.Use this phrase to advise someone to ignore insincere critics or deceptive people. It’s more casual, suitable for conversations but can also work in informal writing.

See it in real clips

Overlook
Pay no attention to these hypocrites

Frequently asked questions: Overlook vs Pay no attention to these hypocrites

What's the difference between Overlook and Pay no attention to these hypocrites?

Overlook: To not notice something or to ignore it. Pay no attention to these hypocrites: Don't focus on these dishonest people.

Which is more common: Overlook and Pay no attention to these hypocrites?

Overlook is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Overlook: From the hilltop, you can overlook the entire city in the distance. Pay no attention to these hypocrites: You should pay no attention to these hypocrites at work.

Can I use Overlook and Pay no attention to these hypocrites interchangeably?

Not always. Overlook and Pay no attention to these hypocrites are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons