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
Keegan’s biweekly architecture column is supported by a grant from former Tribune critic Blair Kamin, as administered by the not-for-profit Journalism Funding Partners.
—
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
The complaint alleged that Brock didn’t administer sufficient pain medication and failed to properly complete the procedure or follow up with pathology findings.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
When Covid-19 vaccines first became available, they were administered as one or two doses, protecting against severe illness and death.
—Shreyas Teegala, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
The officers administered medical aid, but despite their efforts, the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for administer
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Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
The complaint alleged that Brock didn’t administer sufficient pain medication and failed to properly complete the procedure or follow up with pathology findings.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
When Covid-19 vaccines first became available, they were administered as one or two doses, protecting against severe illness and death.
—Shreyas Teegala, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
The officers administered medical aid, but despite their efforts, the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for administer
Cite this Entry
“Administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/administer. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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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