1
as in defines
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
the document specifies precisely how you may use the information it contains
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in mentions
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
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Recent Examples of specifies
Each recipe is indicated by a code—O means the Four Roses distillery; B or E indicates the mashbill (B is 35 percent rye, E is 20 percent rye); S means straight whiskey; and the last letter specifies the yeast strain, each of which brings a different flavor profile to the whiskey.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2025
Ryan Christoffel at 9to5Mac has useful analysis that specifies what happened when in recent years to help specify the release date.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Companies can deduct these costs unless a lease clearly specifies otherwise.
—Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 15 Aug. 2025
The Constitution specifies the power of the purse is vested in Congress.
—Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Moore and Harris signed a Memorandum of Understanding that specifies the franchise’s community and re-developmental responsibilities if the Commanders move to another property outside the state.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Replace your carbon monoxide alarm every five to six years or as the manufacturer specifies.
—Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 5 Dec. 2024
But the measure that cleared the Peoria City Council specifies that those who are sleeping outside on public property will receive a warning and three penalties, beginning at $50 and escalating up to $750 for a third violation, though a judge could impose community service instead of a fee.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024
For the chip to generate this tune, it was sequentially loaded with songs in the same time signature (which specifies how many beats are in each bar of music) and style.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 May 2017
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2025
Ryan Christoffel at 9to5Mac has useful analysis that specifies what happened when in recent years to help specify the release date.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Companies can deduct these costs unless a lease clearly specifies otherwise.
—Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 15 Aug. 2025
The Constitution specifies the power of the purse is vested in Congress.
—Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Moore and Harris signed a Memorandum of Understanding that specifies the franchise’s community and re-developmental responsibilities if the Commanders move to another property outside the state.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Replace your carbon monoxide alarm every five to six years or as the manufacturer specifies.
—Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 5 Dec. 2024
But the measure that cleared the Peoria City Council specifies that those who are sleeping outside on public property will receive a warning and three penalties, beginning at $50 and escalating up to $750 for a third violation, though a judge could impose community service instead of a fee.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024
For the chip to generate this tune, it was sequentially loaded with songs in the same time signature (which specifies how many beats are in each bar of music) and style.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specifies
Verb
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The study defines the sandwich generation as adults who have at least one child under 18 and a living parent—which is around one in four Americans.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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No one game defines a season, no one loss defines a career.—
Don Yaeger,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mainstream news coverage of Burning Man invariably mentions the Orgy Dome, held inside a cavernous tent-like structure that features both mattresses and air conditioning for participants who are age-screened and provide explicit consent.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
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Cost-cutting was one explanation for this change, but the story also mentions that Starbucks doesn’t need these plants running every day to meet current demand.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The announcement was part of her new partnership with Ro, a company that prescribes GLP-1 medications through telehealth.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
22 Aug. 2025
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Hey Jane prescribes the two-drug combination of mifepristone and misoprostol up until the 11th week, Freedman said.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Barrett, who joined her conservative colleague in the opinion, cites from it in her forthcoming book, according to CNN.—
Sonam Sheth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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Clearance rates were above 60% before 2020, according to the organization, which cites data from the FBI.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fire containment Understanding what 14% containment means Containment indicates what percentage of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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As the report indicates, both State and non-State actors were responsible for violations in over 20 countries, with the highest numbers recorded in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Somalia and South Sudan.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Looking at the sky, the narrator notices that the stars seem unusually close.—
Jia Tolentino,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
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If an owner notices their dog going after grass, be on the lookout for underlying illnesses.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The report notes that 50 charter schools closed in the first half of 2025.—
Peter Greene,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Bateman also notes that even online vintage sourcing isn’t exempt from some inflated pricing.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Hell, there’s an entire TikTok channel that just features a guy reading different Bourdain quotes over travel montages and, sometimes, Bourdain clip shows.—
Tres Dean,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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Her legacy lives on through Dalton, who hangs Toussaint’s portrait at Downing Street and quotes her final speech at the show’s end.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specifies. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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