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specifies

verb

present tense third-person singular of specify
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

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 specifies When leadership specifies what rigor looks like upfront, teams can stop trading quality for speed. — Nacho De Marco, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The company specifies a Mohs hardness of 9, placing sapphire just below diamond on the Mohs scale. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026 The bill specifies that blocking requirements would not apply to root nameserver operators and top-level domain registries. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026 Before sending any money, make sure the document specifies the total settlement amount, when each payment is due and that satisfying those terms will resolve the remaining balance as agreed. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 The plan also specifies rezoning along major commercial corridors, including Winchester Boulevard and The Alameda. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 The document also specifies that the tax would apply to any data centers located in space. — Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2026 The legislation also specifies that implementation depends on legislative funding. — Mckenna Mobley, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 Kansas law also specifies that your employer cannot count your usual lunch break toward these two hours. — Rashad Alexander august 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specifies
  1. defines
  2. mentions
  3. prescribes
  4. cites
  5. indicates
  6. notices
  7. notes
  8. quotes
Verb
  • The Mayo Clinic defines the mental health condition as typically marked by hallucinations, delusions, depression, and mania.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The former shoe, which lacks the gel Swoosh on its profile that defines the latter, was originally designed with Scottie Pippen in mind.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of defines
Verb
  • The second a Verizon worker mentions adding a screen protector, my blood boils.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • While there, McConaughey’s mother, Ma Mac (Holland Taylor) casually mentions there’s a chance the friends could actually be half-brothers.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of mentions
Verb
  • As a practicing psychiatrist, Lembke routinely prescribes stimulants for ADHD, opioids for pain and benzodiazepines for insomnia and anxiety.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In the film, Dusty reinjures his wrist, and his doctor (Ben Stiller) prescribes pickleball to promote healing.
    — Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of prescribes
Verb
  • In contrast, very little is known about how the hindbrain and spinal cord adopt different fates; the new paper cites only one reference on the topic.
    — JOHN TIMMER, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Sussman cites one study in which women who had substantial student-loan debt were around forty per cent less likely to have kids than those who didn’t carry debt.
    — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of cites
Verb
  • The trajectory of income growth indicates that the current pace of consumer spending is likely to slow but still remain fairly solid, said Gus Faucher, senior vice president and chief economist at The PNC Financial Services Group.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The report also indicates there were breaks for players to get water.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of indicates
Verb
  • Tasks need a human being who notices what is happening and takes responsibility.
    — Nikola Kiridzic, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • For cases such as the one described in this recent post in which cats are being fed on private property within an association community, violation notices as well as cease and desist letters are the most common initial responses.
    — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of notices
Verb
  • This all sounds exhausting, but most inhabitants love it, Specht notes, especially compared with the chaos of nearby Miami.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Lee notes that Microsoft, for example, has taken steps to lessen its near-term accounting obligations by extending depreciation schedules.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of notes
Verb
  • This article quotes language that may be offensive to readers.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • To better understand Lizzie and Emma’s experience, as well as that of other middle-class women at the time, Robertson quotes contemporary journalist Julian Ralph.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of quotes

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Cite this Entry

“Specifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specifies. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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