1
as in to define
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 to mention
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 specify
The policy does not specify what happens if consensus is not reached or whether agreement requires all parties or a majority.
—
Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Hoekstra didn’t specify where the unit will be based and if it will be activated in time for the summer wildfire season.
—Menelaos Hadjicostis, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But, according to an audit conducted by the school district office of Chief Auditor Dave Rhodes, the wording of the 2022 referendum failed to specify which non-teaching staff would see the benefits.
—Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The police report didn’t specify if the homeowners suffered injuries during the invasion.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Hoekstra didn’t specify where the unit will be based and if it will be activated in time for the summer wildfire season.
—Menelaos Hadjicostis, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But, according to an audit conducted by the school district office of Chief Auditor Dave Rhodes, the wording of the 2022 referendum failed to specify which non-teaching staff would see the benefits.
—Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The police report didn’t specify if the homeowners suffered injuries during the invasion.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specify
Verb
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What makes the current moment so striking is that the drift now appears to be reversing, cautiously and without the overexuberance that defined the post-WTO era.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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Yet the defining challenges of our era do not respect borders.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While Ferguson was mentioned in the latest Epstein files release, she has not been accused of any wrongdoing.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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That’s somehow intensified by the fact that most of the people mentioned in the files, like Paul Weiss’ now-former chairman Brad Karp, aren’t really accused of anything specific.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The department describes the burn like how a doctor prescribes medicine, the prescribed fire is to improve the health of a natural area.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Feb. 2026
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Depending on your individual health profile, you may also be prescribed other hormones together with estrogen.—
Bonnie Vengrow,
Flow Space,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The memo cited a case in February 2025, where customs agents at a Texas airport interviewed a British national who had been identified as the administrator of a 764 group on Telegram.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Winneshiek County dairy with about 330 head of dairy cattle has been cited for two previous fish kill incidents, where manure leaked from the operation into a tributary of Dry Run Creek.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then Heard noticed a provision in a California law created in 2012 that allows juveniles sentenced to life without parole to petition for resentencing.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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First responders noticed that the child seemed malnourished and had bruising on his body, police said.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The recent batch of labor market data (both public and private) indicated that there’s a high likelihood that job growth was tepid, that unemployment remained subdued and that health care remained a primary driver of overall hiring.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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However, documents indicate that the friendship continued.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The first two paragraphs recalled the Holocaust, and noted that compiling a list of Jews as precedent thereto.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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The iron-man mentality wasn’t much help in August (see stat to note), but 2025 saw Machado hit his 350th career homer and up his franchise-leading total to 194, surpass 2,000 career hits, earn his third Silver Slugger Award and start the All-Star Game at third base for the second time as a Padre.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Happy February, quotes readers!—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
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The actress quoted Nelson Mandela as part of her brief remarks.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specify. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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