specify
verb
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Definition of specify
1 : to name or state explicitly or in detail
2 : to include as an item in a specification
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Other Words from specify
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adjective
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noun
Synonyms for specify
Synonyms
advert (to), cite, drop, instance, mention, name, note, notice, quote, refer (to), touch (on or upon)
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Examples of specify in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
All the times that residents gave to the Free Press, however, are well past the 10 p.m. deadline that noise ordinance signs usually specify. — Marc Daalder, Detroit Free Press, "Motorcycle engines and blaring boomboxes keep Rivertown up at night," 5 June 2018 Under the agreement, UConn will specify the terms of the insurance and Seven Stars will pay the premium up to a total cost of $250,000. — Kathleen Megan, courant.com, "UConn Trustees Approve Sale Of West Hartford Campus to Financial Tech Company," 6 July 2018 But the president has never specified his objective. — Martin Feldstein, WSJ, "The Use—and Abuse—of Tariffs," 5 July 2018 Dvorak specified that the first entry of the cello be made resolutely and with marked accent. — Alan Artner, chicagotribune.com, "In the heat, Moser, Grant Park Orchestra perform a delicate Dvorak," 30 June 2018 His comments marked the first time a public official has specified how many of them are in the Chicago area. — CBS News, "ICE may seek up to 15,000 beds to detain immigrant families," 22 June 2018 None of the lawsuits, however, specifies how much less Disney contends those assessments should be. — Gabrielle Russon, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney fights over latest tax bill for Grand Floridian, other properties," 18 June 2018 Users specify preferences for everything from size and budget to lifestyle. — Leah Bourne, Glamour, "Women's Clothing Subscription Boxes Want to Change the Way You Shop—So We Tried Them," 18 June 2018 Federal law specifies that anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or a crime that carries a prison term of two years or less under state law isn’t specifically barred from owning a gun. — Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, "State urges police chiefs to strip gun licenses from hundreds previously approved," 15 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'specify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for specify
specify
verb
English Language Learners Definition of specify
: to name or mention (someone or something) exactly and clearly : to be specific about (something)
See the full definition for specify in the English Language Learners Dictionary
specify
verb
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Kids Definition of specify
1 : to mention or name exactly and clearly Can you specify the cause of the crash?
2 : to include in a description of work to be done or materials to be used
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