administer
verb
ad·min·is·ter
əd-ˈmi-nə-stər 
administered; administering
əd-ˈmi-nə-st(ə-)riŋ
1
: to manage or supervise the execution, use, or conduct of
administer a trust fund
2
a
: to provide or apply : dispense
administer justice
administer punishment
b
: to give officially or as part of a ritual
administer a test
administer the last rites
c
: to give remedially
administer a dose of medicine
1
: to perform the office of administrator
2
: to furnish a benefit : minister
administer to an ailing friend
3
: to manage affairs
Examples of administer in a Sentence
As a cost-saving measure, voters have elected to have the two towns administered jointly.
The UN personnel are there to help administer the territory.
She's been hired to administer the fund.
The assistant will administer the test.
a priest to administer the sacraments
Recent Examples on the Web
The lab’s work also will prioritize projects that dovetail with the Florida-Israel Institute, which is administered through FAU.
—
Ruth Abramovitz, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
In a statement to 11Alive, a spokesperson for the governor said the safety grants were given to local school districts and were not directly administered by the state.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 June 2026
One of the most frightening setbacks came when Asher developed an MRSA bloodstream infection that originated in his port — the device connected to his heart that allows doctors to administer treatment.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
The seizure persisted despite initial treatment, and the medical team prepared to administer an anti-epileptic medication called phenytoin.
—Nisha Narayanan, STAT, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for administer
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Ruth Abramovitz, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
In a statement to 11Alive, a spokesperson for the governor said the safety grants were given to local school districts and were not directly administered by the state.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 June 2026
One of the most frightening setbacks came when Asher developed an MRSA bloodstream infection that originated in his port — the device connected to his heart that allows doctors to administer treatment.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
The seizure persisted despite initial treatment, and the medical team prepared to administer an anti-epileptic medication called phenytoin.
—Nisha Narayanan, STAT, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for administer
Cite this Entry
“Administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/administer. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
administer
verb
ad·min·is·ter
əd-ˈmin-ə-stər
administered; administering
-st(ə-)riŋ
1
: to direct the affairs of : manage
administer a government
2
: to give out as deserved
administer justice
3
: to give formally or ceremonially
administer the sacraments
4
: to give as treatment
administer a drug
Medical Definition
administer
transitive verb
ad·min·is·ter
əd-ˈmin-ə-stər
administered; administering
-st(ə-)riŋ
: to give (as medicine) remedially
the antibiotic may be administered orally or by injection
Legal Definition
administer
verb
ad·min·is·ter
əd-ˈmi-nə-stər
administered; administering
1
: to manage the affairs of (as a government or agency)
2
a
: to direct or supervise the execution, use, or conduct of
administer a trust fund
b
: to settle (an estate) under a court appointment as administrator or executor
3
a
: to give ritually
administer an oath
b
: to give (as a narcotic) for the purpose of ingesting
1
: to perform the office of an administrator or executor
2
: to manage or conduct affairs
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