Supervise/ˈsuːpərvaɪz/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Not Just Watching Supervising implies taking action to correct or guide, not just observing. As she supervised the rehearsal, she made notes for feedback. Pro Tip 2/3Confusion with Observe Do not confuse 'supervise' with 'observe'; supervision is more active. Observing traffic is different from supervising a traffic control system. Pro Tip 3/3Scope of Control Supervision can be overarching or focused on specific tasks or areas. She supervises the entire production process, especially quality control.