1
as in defining
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 mentioning
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 specifying
Approximately 50 soldiers guarding the vehicles attempted to repel the attackers, presidential spokesperson Carolina Jaramillo said, without specifying whether anyone was injured.
—
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Instead, Mason suggests specifying the purpose and time frame of your request.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The vote — taken during a lightning-quick meeting without specifying the property or the reason for the transfer — was immediately followed by an announcement from Attorney General James Uthmeier that the state would dedicate the land to Trump’s library.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The Prosecutor's Office released a statement specifying that her vehicle was also found at the hotel.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite specifying various antics with pills, a belt-as-noose, and a gun, Cloud has given him no real demons to explore.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
IEPs set out guidelines for the special education the school will provide the child, specifying the specific accommodations, type of instruction, and behavioral plans that will be used to support the student.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
Reimbursements fall within thresholds the company sets in advance, specifying the number of hours of bad weather that must occur to qualify and the financial compensation to which a purchaser is entitled.
—Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Indeed, at every Catholic Mass, participants offer a general confession of sins without specifying particular actions.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Instead, Mason suggests specifying the purpose and time frame of your request.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The vote — taken during a lightning-quick meeting without specifying the property or the reason for the transfer — was immediately followed by an announcement from Attorney General James Uthmeier that the state would dedicate the land to Trump’s library.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The Prosecutor's Office released a statement specifying that her vehicle was also found at the hotel.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite specifying various antics with pills, a belt-as-noose, and a gun, Cloud has given him no real demons to explore.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
IEPs set out guidelines for the special education the school will provide the child, specifying the specific accommodations, type of instruction, and behavioral plans that will be used to support the student.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
Reimbursements fall within thresholds the company sets in advance, specifying the number of hours of bad weather that must occur to qualify and the financial compensation to which a purchaser is entitled.
—Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Indeed, at every Catholic Mass, participants offer a general confession of sins without specifying particular actions.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specifying
Verb
-
Created by Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe, The Chi premiered in 2018 and quickly became a defining work in contemporary television, weaving together the lives of Chicago residents in a unique way.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
-
There’s often a very clear defining line between the teams that have it and the teams that don’t.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Beach did not expand on an exact production date for the coins past mentioning the shutdown.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The second part of the verse gets real specific, while mentioning her now-husband 1975 drummer George Daniel.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Eye doctors could start prescribing them in the coming weeks.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Generic versions have since emerged, and some doctors began prescribing it off label for autism patients.—
Alice Park,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Democrats are dug in on extending Obamacare subsidies expiring soon, citing Americans' rising health care costs.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Hall allegedly punched the back door to enter his in-laws' home, where his estranged wife was staying with their children, WPXI and the Observer-Reporter reported, citing accounts from witnesses and authorities.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The dangers of not having a name After Hugh-Jones published his 1955 paper, researchers around the globe started noticing similar cases that didn't fit Type 1 or Type 2.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Anderson says, suddenly noticing the red light on my recorder.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Currently, there is no data indicating the containment progress of the fire and its cause remains unknown.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Smashing Machine even gets an A24-like CinemaScore of B-, indicating a divide among those who watched it.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
No other products or services will be impacted, the agency said, noting the move is a strategic part of USPS’s 10-year plan to create a revitalized organization.—
Michelle Del Rey,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Democrats have called the claims a lie, noting that undocumented immigrants aren’t eligible for payments from Medicare, Medicaid, or the Affordable Care Act.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Soon after his arrival, Johnson posted an X message quoting Bukele.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Ferrer testified against her, quoting harsh language from her verdict.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specifying. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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