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
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 specifying
Apple isn't specifying what changes were made—likely a combination of a wider-bandwidth controller, faster NAND flash for lower latency, and platform-level improvements introduced with the M5-series chips—but the company does claim up to two-times-faster SSD performance.
—
Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
The Blackhawks announced on Saturday that Murray died earlier in the day, without specifying where.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Sri Lanka is not allowing the ship to dock but is providing some humanitarian assistance, Cabinet spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said Wednesday, without specifying if the ship was a commercial or naval vessel.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
The festival said the Official Selection of the 79th edition will be unveiled mid-April without specifying a date.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Apart from specifying that the number of wolves had to exceed the state’s endangerment cutoff, legislators never defined what such a sustainable level might be.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Entire chapters specifying how nuclear material should be secured and what sorts of physical barriers should be built to protect it have been reduced to bullet points.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
Include your name, phone number and email address specifying February Writing Workshop.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Putting the murder shortlist in one person’s hands, rather than letting the shields do the work of specifying who can be killed off, is a major change that gives the Secret Traitor a ton of power without a ton of explanation for their thinking.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
The Blackhawks announced on Saturday that Murray died earlier in the day, without specifying where.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Sri Lanka is not allowing the ship to dock but is providing some humanitarian assistance, Cabinet spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said Wednesday, without specifying if the ship was a commercial or naval vessel.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
The festival said the Official Selection of the 79th edition will be unveiled mid-April without specifying a date.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Apart from specifying that the number of wolves had to exceed the state’s endangerment cutoff, legislators never defined what such a sustainable level might be.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
Entire chapters specifying how nuclear material should be secured and what sorts of physical barriers should be built to protect it have been reduced to bullet points.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
Include your name, phone number and email address specifying February Writing Workshop.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Putting the murder shortlist in one person’s hands, rather than letting the shields do the work of specifying who can be killed off, is a major change that gives the Secret Traitor a ton of power without a ton of explanation for their thinking.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specifying
Verb
-
That balcony—one of the defining features of the style—faces west toward the nearby San Jacinto Mountains and runs the length of the upper level.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In the six years since their last non-collaborative album, a new wave of young bands influenced by their crisp and orderly form of shoegaze have made the once-dormant genre one of the defining sounds of this decade.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wynwood’s worth mentioning too.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That’s understandable, as is not mentioning my awkward late-1960s flirtation with CNB that would end with me working as a cab driver.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sawant, the owner of the testing company — and a proponent of leucovorin — fears that some physicians may interpret the FDA’s announcement as a reason to stop prescribing leucovorin.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The American Medical Association and American Pharmacists Association oppose prescribing ivermectin to treat COVID outside of clinical trials.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At least one person was killed in the attack, according to multiple media reports, citing Iraqi port officials, and 38 crew members were rescued from the ships.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Staff at Augustine declined to comment on the incident when contacted Tuesday, citing the ongoing SJPD investigation.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Linas, a runner, started the Creek Team OC Instagram account after noticing changes on his runs along San Juan and Trabuco creeks, where lush green reeds suddenly turned brown and lifeless.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Hadel proceeds to handcuff Brown behind his back before noticing wounds on his head producing a steady stream of blood onto the road below.—
Mathew Schumer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trouvelot cuts into this degraded crater, indicating that the neighboring basin formed first.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Within 24 hours of the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran, ships in the region’s waters found their navigation systems had gone haywire, erroneously indicating that the vessels were at airports, a nuclear power plant and on Iranian land.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The letter also raised concerns about foreign investment in Paramount’s offer, noting that the deal included potential financing from Chinese company Tencent Holdings, which had previously withdrawn funding due to national security review concerns.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The resolution is strongly worded but also filled with caveats — noting that the district will comply with contracting and procurement laws.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Post, quoting unnamed sources, reported that the embassy refused and that Mullin then threatened them, though the actual threats were not reported.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Zamora Wilson began a committee hearing last week by quoting Benjamin Franklin’s line about how giving up essential liberty for temporary safety makes one deserving of neither.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specifying. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
