transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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
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.
This federal program is administered to each individual state and is intended for homeowners to invest in a qualified energy retrofit project. Brynn Cooksey, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 To stop those infections and interrupt the spread, health workers administer the antibiotic azithromycin — often the pill is given once a year for several years. Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024 National Historic Landmarks are administered by the National Historic Landmarks Program of the National Park Service. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 30 Dec. 2024 Typically, EKGs are administered during a routine wellness visit or for evaluation of an HCM symptom, or during screening of family members of people with HCM, says Moss. Perri Ormont Blumberg, TIME, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for administer 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English administren, aministren, borrowed from Anglo-French administrer, aministrer, borrowed from Latin administrāre "to assist, operate, perform, manage the affairs of," from ad- ad- + ministrāre "to wait on, serve, furnish" — more at minister entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of administer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near administer

Cite this Entry

“Administer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/administer. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

administer

verb
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
: to give (as medicine) remedially
the antibiotic may be administered orally or by injection

Legal Definition

administer

verb
administered; administering

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1
: to perform the office of an administrator or executor
2
: to manage or conduct affairs

More from Merriam-Webster on administer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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