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 inspection didn’t specify the kind of brush.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t publicly specified a motive.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026
The carrier did not specify how far along the passenger who gave birth was.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Italian consumer law requires companies to specify valid reasons for modifying contract terms.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t publicly specified a motive.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026
The carrier did not specify how far along the passenger who gave birth was.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Italian consumer law requires companies to specify valid reasons for modifying contract terms.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specify
Verb
-
Sound design—the particular timbre of a bass drum or a synth sweep—often defines the identity of a track.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That shop, Orange County Drum & Percussion, better known as OCDP, would go on to define the look and sound of a generation of alternative rock drummers.—
Jeff Miller,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Eco effort As mentioned, the resort takes its aquiline ponds seriously and has an on-site team of marine naturalists to maintain them.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
One notable matriarch mentioned in Waters’s book is Phyllis Schlafly.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the case takes the course prescribed under the Texas criminal procedure code and if a magistrate or a state district judge finds that Rodriguez-Singh is incompetent, she will likely be ordered admitted to a maximum-security unit at a state hospital for an attempt at competency restoration.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
-
According to the announcement, spotted by The Verge, the chatbot will only prescribe medications that are considered lower risk, for example SSRIs like sertraline (Zoloft) for depression rather than habit-forming drugs like benzodiazepines or some ADHD drugs like Adderall.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal is citing senior American negotiators and officials as saying chances of an agreement with Iran by tonight's deadline are slim.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The critic Nathan Scott McNamara, writing in the Los Angeles Review of Books, has aptly compared NDiaye’s writing to that of Shirley Jackson, and NDiaye herself cites Joyce Carol Oates as a strong influence.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Women suffering through the hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep problems that can come with menopause — all while looking in the mirror and noticing signs of aging — are being bombarded with products.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The passenger in the back eventually looked up from her phone, noticed Louise, and locked eyes with this bewildered-looking woman blocking the crosswalk.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The records also do not indicate whether the Saudis passed any information about their country’s finances to him.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
At the scene, deputies learned about a social media post that indicated a shooting was planned.—
Alysia Burgio,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Borenstein notes that this was true before the mystery surcharge appeared in 2015.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
While the other networks gained, Fox News noted that its viewership picked up month-over-month in March, as well as quarter over quarter.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There was a noticeable 20-30% uptick in cancellations for Middle East routes from the travel agency’s Asian clients, with many quoting $450 non-refundable fare change fees on international trips being a top cancellation trigger.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Stammen is quoted in my game story (here) saying the Padres liked the matchup and that the hard contact against King is what precipitated his decision to pull the right-hander.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specify. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
