Overlook vs Please ignore them
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Overlook
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Please ignore them
Top 2,000 (common)
| Overlook | Please ignore them | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌəʊvəˈlʊk/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊks/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊkt/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌəʊvərˈlʊk/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊks/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊkt/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊkɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pliːz ɪɡˈnɔː ðɛm//🇺🇸 //pliz ɪˈɡnɔr ðɛm// |
| Meaning | To not notice something or to ignore it. | Don't pay attention to them. |
| Example | From the hilltop, you can overlook the entire city in the distance. | During the meeting, he said, 'Please ignore them if they start talking.', |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | completely, 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 overlooked | please ignore requests, please ignore distractions, politely ignore comments |
| Antonyms | notice, 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 'ignore' incorrectly with objects (e.g., 'ignore them to do')., Confusing 'ignore' with 'neglect'., Saying 'please ignore to them' instead of 'please ignore them'. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used when referring to missed details or ignoring responsibilities. Appropriate in both written and spoken English. Generally not used in very formal contexts. | Use when asking someone not to focus on certain people. It's polite but can be direct. |
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Frequently asked questions: Overlook vs Please ignore them
What's the difference between Overlook and Please ignore them?
Overlook: To not notice something or to ignore it. Please ignore them: Don't pay attention to them.
Can you show an example of each?
Overlook: From the hilltop, you can overlook the entire city in the distance. Please ignore them: During the meeting, he said, 'Please ignore them if they start talking.',
Can I use Overlook and Please ignore them interchangeably?
Not always. Overlook and Please ignore them 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.