specialize
Americanverb (used without object)
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specializes,
present (3rd person singular)
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specialized,
past participle, past
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specializing
present participle
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to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.; have a specialty.
The doctor specializes in gastroenterology.
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Biology. (of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment.
verb (used with object)
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specializes,
present (3rd person singular)
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specialized,
past participle, past
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specializing
present participle
-
to render special or specific; invest with a special character, function, etc.
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to adapt to special conditions; restrict to specific limits.
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to restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.
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to specify; particularize.
verb
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(intr) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity
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(usually passive) to cause (organisms or their parts) to develop in a way most suited to a particular environment or way of life or (of organisms, etc) to develop in this way
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(tr) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose
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(tr) to mention specifically; specify
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(tr) to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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specializationnoun
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overspecializeverb
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subspecializeverb
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prespecializeverb (used without object)
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superspecializeverb (used without object)
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nonspecializingadjective
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unspecializingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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specializesimple
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specializessimple
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have specializedperfect
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has specializedperfect
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am specializingprogressive
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are specializingprogressive
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is specializingprogressive
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have been specializingperfect progressive
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has been specializingperfect progressive
Past
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specializedsimple
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had specializedperfect
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was specializingprogressive
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were specializingprogressive
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had been specializingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of specialize
From the French word spécialiser, dating back to 1605–15; see special, -ize
Explanation
To specialize is to narrow down your focus, in your studies or profession, to a specific field. If you love playing the accordion, perhaps you should specialize in polka music. If there’s a subject you think is special, specialize in it! For example, doctors start to specialize in medical school, when they study something specific such as podiatry (feet) or cardiology (hearts). Other professionals also specialize in smaller parts of larger fields, like lawyers who specialize in corporate law, or writers who specialize in TV comedies.
Vocabulary lists containing specialize
Drama
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-ize
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African Civilizations, Lessons 1–2
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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.
See Examples For:
The first involves retinoic acid, a molecule produced from vitamin A. Retinoic acid helps regulate how cells develop and specialize throughout the body.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
Two other attorneys who specialize in serving small businesses said they’ve seen a significant uptick in bankruptcy cases that include MCAs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Ares was one of the first fund managers to specialize in making private corporate loans and has mostly stuck to that focus, with the exception of an expansion into private asset-backed debt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
As these precursor cells mature, they must build new cellular structures, produce fats, and activate genes that allow them to specialize in storing energy.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
The two hemispheres specialize in different mental skills, but brain functions are not as neatly divided as they appear.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Stewart would later work with the charity Refuge, which specializes in domestic abuse.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
The findings were published in the scientific journal Temperature, which specializes in research on body temperature regulation and its effects on human physiology.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
Now he specializes in election security at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit that advocates for digital and civil rights.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026
Some major studios have developed such projects with written scripts and hired directors, said Strawn Dixon, an agent at the United Talent Agency who specializes in animation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Dr. Eloesser specializes in tuberculosis, but Joey takes every opportunity to educate him about Hansen’s disease.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Certain cells that initially detect blue light appear to change into cells sensitive to red and green light, helping create the specialized arrangement needed for clear central vision.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
Maintainers constantly repair aircraft, ordnance handlers load and unload munitions, and specialized mechanics fix engines in the carrier’s jet shop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
It is prone to breakdowns and difficult to fix, as replacement parts and specialized engineers are in short supply.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
To investigate this puzzle, scientists focused on cardiolipin, a specialized fat molecule located almost exclusively within the inner membrane of mitochondria.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
In 1935 the dominant lab in this category had been the Cavendish, which specialized in reactions induced by alpha rays and protons; Berkeley could only compete in research on deuterons.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
“Cárdenas was, in a real sense, one of the midwives of Mexico’s democratic transition,” said Kathleen Bruhn, a political science professor specializing in Mexico at the University of California.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
At Cabrio, a 5th-district newcomer specializing in small plates and natural wines, head chef Tamás Albrecht pickles in-house, opting for a fruitier vinegar than Hungarians traditionally prefer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Andrew McHill, Ph.D., a study co-author and associate professor specializing in sleep and circadian physiology at OHSU, said the findings strengthen existing evidence that the timing of everyday activities can have important health consequences.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
"Adenocarcinoma is the most common kind of what's called non-small cell lung cancer," David Spigel, a medical oncologist specializing in lung cancer research at Nashville's Sarah Cannon Research Institute, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
“I’m a consultant specializing in art of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. You know that Monet painting of the haystacks?”
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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