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
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 specify
If having a sea view is important to you, be sure to specify when booking.
—
Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
The department did not say why police arrested the woman or specify the charges against her.
—Joe Marusak
may 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2026
Presidential candidates would come under growing pressure to specify their choices in advance, effectively turning future justices into co-campaigners on the ticket.
—Washington Post Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
But that press release did not specify where that statistic comes from.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
The department did not say why police arrested the woman or specify the charges against her.
—Joe Marusak
may 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2026
Presidential candidates would come under growing pressure to specify their choices in advance, effectively turning future justices into co-campaigners on the ticket.
—Washington Post Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
But that press release did not specify where that statistic comes from.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for specify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specify
Verb
-
But Kyiv’s early embrace of drones, and the mass-industrialization of their accuracy and power, has begun to exact a defining toll on Moscow.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Taken together, those cultural threads help explain why food – and especially meat – carries an outsized symbolic role in Texas politics, where the official state dish, adopted in 1977, is chili, defined by its significant meat base.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area As mentioned, the location is excellent.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Not to mention, Fox News Digital was in New York for Awesome Championship Wrestling that delivered on four-plus hours of wrestling fun.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Those norms translate into criteria that assess real-world outcomes, rather than prescribing technical processes that will be obsolete within months.—
Shlomit Wagman,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
Some medical experts are concerned that virtual care may be insufficient for prescribing weight loss drugs.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
According to county officials cited by WIBC, Habib also passed the federal E-Verify employment-authorization check during onboarding.—
Alexandra Koch , Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Neon released the first movie, with its marketing campaign cited as a blueprint for how to build anticipation for a spooky movie.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The ability to notice emotional shifts in others is a key part of developing empathy, one of the highest forms of emotional intelligence.—
Reem Raouda,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
-
Fans also noticed that the show didn’t tag any of its contestants’ Instagram handles in this year’s announcement and that comments are already restricted on the Islanders’ personal pages, leading to speculation that the show has put new social media safeguards in place to alleviate harassment.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Police said their investigation indicated an argument escalated to gunfire.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, surveys indicate that US car buyers are aware of the concerns but don’t care.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
During a September 2025 interview with the Taco Policy podcast, Talarico noted that his usual go-to taco order is actually a bacon and egg taco on a flour tortilla – another common combination for breakfast taco connoisseurs.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Igwe pointed to DoorDash’s growing grocery and retail use cases, noting that the World Cup campaign highlights more than meals.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The motion quoted from disciplinary findings in the case of the unidentified judge.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
-
The times quoted refer to the local time zone, in this case Eastern Daylight Time.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specify. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
