1
as in to define
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
the document specifies precisely how you may use the information it contains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to mention
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically
police reports didn't specify the model of car the robbers were driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of specify
The letter specified some examples of how religious expression in public schools should be treated the same as secular expression.
—
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
The family didn't specify the cause of death, but asked for their privacy to be respected.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
The company publicly announced his passing on its social media channels Thursday, but did not specify Webb’s cause of death.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
The statute does not specify if that means unlocked gates that can be opened and closed at will by anyone, or if locked gates are allowed in some circumstances.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
The family didn't specify the cause of death, but asked for their privacy to be respected.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
The company publicly announced his passing on its social media channels Thursday, but did not specify Webb’s cause of death.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
The statute does not specify if that means unlocked gates that can be opened and closed at will by anyone, or if locked gates are allowed in some circumstances.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specify
Verb
-
The mustache required fewer pixels to animate than a mouth, and the overalls helped clearly define Mario’s movements.—
Alexander Kaplan,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
From the very beginning, ABC was making a big bet on a figure whose defining, and perhaps most relatable, quality is her impulse to burn it all down.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The document doesn't mention specific evidence of a deliberate backdoor in any existing products.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The diocese mentioned that a local pediatrician in Ave Maria was offering MMR vaccination through extended hours at her office and local house visits.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Healthcare professionals often prescribe interoceptive exposure to people with panic disorder in conjunction with other therapies, Knoepflmacher says.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Outside,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Several members highlighted the need for research to answer long-standing clinical questions, such as whether certain antidepressants should be prescribed to autistic children with anxiety.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 48-year-old business owner and former MMA fighter has been known to work across the aisle and has strong relationships with some Democrats, which Heinrich and Fetterman have cited for their support.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The figure cited in his post and a recent news release comes from a John Locke Foundation analysis that looked at property tax revenue across multiple counties over roughly a decade — not from Cabarrus County alone.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
James turned forty-one at the end of that month, an age at which many people start to notice the normal degeneration of their tendons and joints.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In 2024, the Rowes noticed a significant change in Ralph's behavior.—
Will Croxton,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Days after the incident, detectives received pictures and messages from Smith’s Snapchat account indicating an arrangement between Williams and Smith to purchase marijuana.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Sediment samples near the torpedo compartment showed no evidence of plutonium leakage from the nuclear warheads, indicating titanium patches applied by Soviet and Russian expeditions in 1994 remain effective.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some troops have maintained a near-continuous presence since last summer, while others -- particularly those from out of state -- cycle through on shorter deployments, one of the officials noted.—
Steven Beynon,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Dawes noted there was no direct proof smoking cigarettes had caused the blaze.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Reuters news agency quoted officials with the company that owns the facility as saying Friday that the impact had damaged external infrastructure belonging to a third party, but which is essential to the refinery's operations.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Gellar quoted a Season 7 scene between Xander and Dawn, portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg, who died at age 39 last February.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specify. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
