specify
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mention or name specifically or definitely; state in detail.
He did not specify the amount needed.
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to give a specific character to.
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to set forth as a specification.
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to name or state as a condition.
He specified that he be given my power of attorney.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to refer to or state specifically
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to state as a condition
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to state or include in the specification of
Other Word Forms
- misspecified adjective
- nonspecified adjective
- prespecify verb (used with object)
- respecify verb
- specificative adjective
- specificatively adverb
- specifier noun
- underspecified adjectiveunderspecified, underspecifying
- underspecify verb (used with object)
- unspecified adjective
- unspecifying adjective
Etymology
Origin of specify
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English specyfyen, from Old French specifier, from Medieval Latin specificāre “to describe, mention particularly,” from specific(us) specific + āre, infinitive verb suffix
Explanation
To explicitly name something or state a particular detail, you specify that thing. So, when you have a craving for dessert and you send someone to the store to buy ice cream, you may want to specify a flavor. If you assign something for a particular purpose, this verb means that you specify. Your parents can specify for safety's sake that you can only ride your bicycle on the sidewalk and not on the street. Another use of the verb specify is to give a set of requirements. If you have your grandmother's old recipe for snickerdoodle cookies, you may wonder what the recipe means when it specifies that you should add "a smidgen of molasses."
Vocabulary lists containing specify
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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STAAR English I: The Language of the Test 2
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STAAR English II: The Language of the Test 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They did not specify exactly when in 2026, and BBC Sport has been told that negotiations were held that led to him starting work at McLaren on 1 January this year.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
The Raiders announced his death Monday but did not specify a cause of death.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
In other words, a federal contract doesn’t have to expressly specify that a contractor perform an action for it to be covered by the removal statute.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
The power of attorney should be “durable” and specify that you will make decisions on his behalf when he is incapacitated or otherwise unable to do so himself.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
The letter did not specify the exact nature of the materials.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
