administer

[ ad-min-uh-ster ]

/ ædˈmɪn ə stər /

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See synonyms for: administer / administered / administering / administrant on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to manage (affairs, a government, etc.); have executive charge of: to administer the law.

to bring into use or operation: to administer justice;to administer last rites.

to make application of; give: to administer medicine.

to supervise the formal taking of (an oath or the like).

Law. to manage or dispose of, as a decedent's estate by an executor or administrator or a trust estate by a trustee.

verb (used without object)

to contribute assistance; bring aid or supplies (usually followed by to): to administer to those in need of aid.

to perform the duties of an administrator: She administers quite effectively.

OTHER WORDS FOR administer

1 conduct, control, direct, manage, run, superintend, supervise, oversee.

2 provide, supply, furnish.

See synonyms for administer on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of administer

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin administrāre “to assist, carry out, manage the affairs of” (see ad-, minister); replacing Middle English amynistre (with a-⁵), from Middle French aministrer

synonym study for administer

1. See rule.

OTHER WORDS FROM administer

ad·min·is·trant

[ad-min-uh-struhnt], /ædˈmɪn ə strənt/, nounnon·ad·min·is·trant, adjectiveself-ad·min·is·tered, adjectiveself-ad·min·is·ter·ing, adjective

un·ad·min·is·tered, adjectivewell-ad·min·is·tered, adjective

Words nearby administer

admeasurement, Admete, Admetus, admin, adminicle, administer, administered price, administerial, administrable, administrate, administration

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use administer in a sentence

All of those enrolled, however, were given the plasma and the antibody levels weren’t checked before it was administered, making it difficult to determine exactly how much benefit patients would get over current care.
Trump’s push to approve COVID-19 convalescent plasma treatment could delay efforts to better understand it|Claire Zillman, reporter|August 24, 2020|Fortune
In the interview, Liu said that he expects one dose of Sinopharm’s vaccine to be 97% effective in producing an immune response, a rate that would climb to close to 100% once a second dose is administered 28 days later.
A Chinese company says its vaccine will be ready by December—but it won’t be cheap|Grady McGregor|August 22, 2020|Fortune
So far, federal health authorities have offered little detail about their plans for administering vaccines.
U.S. will conduct an unofficial dry run of a COVID-19 vaccine campaign this fall|Claire Zillman, reporter|August 19, 2020|Fortune
The measure targets psychologists who administer conversion therapy and would suspend their licenses for at least five years.
Israel lawmakers move to ban conversion therapy|Kaela Roeder|August 12, 2020|Washington Blade

Even after vaccines are administered to the general public, researchers will be on the lookout for even rarer safety concerns, such as autoimmune diseases triggered by the vaccine, Kuritzkes says.
Here’s what we know about Russia’s unverified coronavirus vaccine|Tina Hesman Saey|August 11, 2020|Science News
The Liberian AIDS commission is now going door-to-door to administer antiretroviral medications to known patients.
What’s Worse Than Ebola in West Africa? Almost Everything|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We hired Eisenhower to run the Cold War, not administer shots,” says Pitney.
How Presidents Handle Pandemics|Eleanor Clift|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dr. Barry Rosenfeld, a psychologist who directs clinical training at Fordham University, did not just administer tests.
One Breakdown Can Mean Losing Your Kid Forever|ProPublica|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At my practice we medical providers administer vaccines ourselves, and I pride myself at doing it very well.
Pediatrician: Don’t Make Me the Bad Guy By Teasing Your Kid About Shots|Russell Saunders|February 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Jerry Lee was taken home and his car was towed from the ditch, the deputies forgot to administer a test for intoxication.
The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis|Richard Ben Cramer|January 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have to administer the bottle drop by drop till it is exhausted, and if I fail the king dies.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
The Act of Incorporation empowered the detectors to take and to administer to their servants an oath of fidelity.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
The priest may be obliged to administer baptism, to hear confession, to give the Viaticum and Extreme Unction.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
It was thus they named a cross-road where the martyr king used to sit under an oak-tree and administer justice.
Chicot the Jester|Alexandre Dumas, Pere
Previous to this Mr. Smith had brought in a bill to administer these trusts by a system of popular election.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

British Dictionary definitions for administer

administer

/ (ədˈmɪnɪstə) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to direct or control (the affairs of a business, government, etc)

to put into execution; dispenseadminister justice

(when intr, foll by to) to give or apply (medicine, assistance, etc) as a remedy or relief

to apply formally; performto administer extreme unction

to supervise or impose the taking of (an oath, etc)

to manage or distribute (an estate, property, etc)

Word Origin for administer

C14: amynistre, via Old French from Latin administrare, from ad- to + ministrāre to minister

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

administer

OTHER WORDS FOR administer

Origin of administer

synonym study for administer

OTHER WORDS FROM administer

Words nearby administer

Words related to administer

How to use administer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for administer

Word Origin for administer