Cool MateKeep an eye on vs Supervise
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Keep an eye on
Top 2,000 (common)
Supervise
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Keep an eye on | Supervise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kiːp ən aɪ ɒn//🇺🇸 //kip ən aɪ ɑn// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsuːpəvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsuːpərvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to watch or pay attention to someone or something | To watch over and manage people or activities. |
| Example | Can you keep an eye on the kids while I cook? | to supervise building work |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | keep an eye on someone, keep an eye on something, keep a close eye on | carefully, closely, directly, appoint somebody to, be responsible for supervising something |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'watch over', which means to protect instead of just monitor., Using in overly formal situations where simpler phrases would work better. | Confused with 'supervisor' - remember 'supervise' is the action, while 'supervisor' is the person., Using 'supervise' in informal contexts where 'help' or 'watch' would be better., Omitting the object - 'supervise' should always have something that is being supervised. |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts where you need to monitor someone or something. More casual than 'observe'. | Used in professional or educational contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms like 'watch' may be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Keep an eye on vs Supervise
What's the difference between Keep an eye on and Supervise?
Keep an eye on: to watch or pay attention to someone or something Supervise: To watch over and manage people or activities.
Can you show an example of each?
Keep an eye on: Can you keep an eye on the kids while I cook? Supervise: to supervise building work
Can I use Keep an eye on and Supervise interchangeably?
Not always. Keep an eye on and Supervise 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.