specialize

American  

[spesh-uh-lahyz] / ˈspɛʃ əˌlaɪz /

especially British, specialise

verb (used without object)

• specializes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• specialized,
  past participle,  past
• specializing
  present participle

1. to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.; have a specialty.

   The doctor specializes in gastroenterology.

2. Biology. (of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment.

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verb (used with object)

• specializes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• specialized,
  past participle,  past
• specializing
  present participle

1. to render special or specific; invest with a special character, function, etc.

2. to adapt to special conditions; restrict to specific limits.

3. to restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.

4. to specify; particularize.

specialize British  

/ ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity

2. (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

3. (tr) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose

4. (tr) to mention specifically; specify

5. (tr) to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• specialization
  noun
• overspecialize
  verb
• subspecialize
  verb
• prespecialize
  verb (used without object)
• superspecialize
  verb (used without object)
• nonspecializing
  adjective
• unspecializing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• specializing
  present
• specialized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• specialize
  simple
• specializes
  simple
• have specialized
  perfect
• has specialized
  perfect
• am specializing
  progressive
• are specializing
  progressive
• is specializing
  progressive
• have been specializing
  perfect progressive
• has been specializing
  perfect progressive

Past

• specialized
  simple
• had specialized
  perfect
• was specializing
  progressive
• were specializing
  progressive
• had been specializing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will specialize
  simple
• will have specialized
  perfect
• will be specializing
  progressive
• will have been specializing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of specialize

From the French word spécialiser, dating back to 1605–15; see special, -ize

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

specialize specializes specialized specializing

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

As ecologist Doug Tallamy has chronicled, over 90% of herbivorous insects specialize on one or a few native plant lineages.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

Unlike many spiders that primarily capture insects, members of the genus Portia specialize in hunting other spiders.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

I think of the people who specialize in financial literacy for kids.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Only a few people can keep up with the rapidly advancing frontier of knowledge, and they have to devote their whole time to it and specialize in a small area.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

While chip maker Marvell specializes in networking and switches, Lumentum specializes in fiber optics.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

But the Rams gave up two big returns in a Week 7 win at Las Vegas, so they re-signed Karty, who specializes in knuckleball kickoffs which can be extremely effective when executed successfully.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Stewart would later work with the charity Refuge, which specializes in domestic abuse.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 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

“Sometimes the secret to making gold out of nothing, or how to cast spells, but the ones Auntie North specializes in are books that turn into maps. Like this one.”

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

This response depends on a specialized type of wood called tension wood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

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

He specialized in the medical use of microscopes and photography.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Locals are now increasingly drawn to northern Pest’s 13th district, a 1930s riverfront neighborhood where a Babka, a decade-old restaurant-cafe specializing in Jewish and Middle Eastern food, has set the tone.

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

Both may divide again, or both may begin specializing into mature skin cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 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

Lori was working as a freelance artist specializing in fantasy, illustrating calendars and game boards and book jackets.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

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