administer
Americanverb (used with object)
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administers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
administered,
past participle, past
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administering
present participle
-
to manage (affairs, a government, etc.); have executive charge of.
to administer the law.
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to bring into use or operation: to administer last rites.
to administer justice;
to administer last rites.
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to make application of; give.
to administer medicine.
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to supervise the formal taking of (an oath or the like).
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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)
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administers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
administered,
past participle, past
-
administering
present participle
-
to contribute assistance; bring aid or supplies (usually followed byto ).
to administer to those in need of aid.
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to perform the duties of an administrator.
She administers quite effectively.
verb
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(also intr) to direct or control (the affairs of a business, government, etc)
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to put into execution; dispense
administer justice
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to give or apply (medicine, assistance, etc) as a remedy or relief
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to apply formally; perform
to administer extreme unction
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to supervise or impose the taking of (an oath, etc)
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to manage or distribute (an estate, property, etc)
Synonym Usage
See rule.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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administrantnoun
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nonadministrantadjective
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self-administeredadjective
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self-administeringadjective
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unadministeredadjective
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well-administeredadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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administersimple
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administerssimple
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have administeredperfect
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has administeredperfect
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am administeringprogressive
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are administeringprogressive
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is administeringprogressive
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have been administeringperfect progressive
-
has been administeringperfect progressive
Past
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administeredsimple
-
had administeredperfect
-
was administeringprogressive
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were administeringprogressive
-
had been administeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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
Explanation
When you administer something, you give it to others. This can apply to a dose of medicine, an order, a survey, or a punishment. Administer can also mean to run something — such as a school or an office. The word administer belongs to a family of words, all having to do with being in charge: administration, administrator, and administrative. Strangely, administer comes from the Latin word minister meaning "servant." So, if your boss or principal administers an instruction that you disagree with, just think of that person as your servant. Doing so will help you carry out your duties with a smile.
Vocabulary lists containing administer
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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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:
“Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
My earlier analysis pointed to the three bulwarks against attempted election subversion—the state and local governments that administer elections, the courts that protect rights, and the American people who are democracy’s ultimate safeguard.
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
Supporters would argue he is a man who is ready to administer the medicine the nation needs, even if people do not like the taste of it.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
The fallout was largely documented on the cat haven’s Facebook page with posts of veterinary and haven staff working together to administer heart compressions on the large black cat lying on the medical table.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Because relatives were sometimes impossible to locate, the committee began to administer the estates of the deceased who had no legal heirs or executors available.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
Los Angeles City Charter Amendment LA looks to change the way the city manages its budget and administers public works to more efficiently deliver basic city services such as repairing streets and sidewalks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
On average, families complete the five-year program with $8,500 in savings, according to Compass Working Capital, one of the HUD partners that administers the program and also provides financial coaching to tenants who participate.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
Lawton's letter was sent from a company called Equiniti, which administers the pension scheme on behalf of the MoD.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance, a public agency that provides and administers the benefits, says changes over the past few decades have helped it recover from a deficit and build a $1.2 billion surplus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Every four years, an international group of educators administers a comprehensive mathematics and science test to elementary and junior high students around the world.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
ETS, a nonprofit assessment organization, helps manage and provide testing-related services for students enrolled in California public schools, including the required Smarter Balanced tests administered in spring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
When the researchers administered GMPs to mice with the disorder, the cells restored the animals' ability to fight bacterial infection.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Court of Appeal previously heard there was no direct evidence of how the Dalmane was administered and that a post-mortem examination found a therapeutic dose.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
"The victims deserve justice administered with solemnity. Broadcasting a death diminishes us and is not an effective deterrent," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Then she did something that generally works pretty well on me: She administered the Silent Treatment.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
Padilla stressed that the new Senate observers would have no role in administering elections or handling ballots.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Most of the time, little information is available to the public about the people administering the lethal injection, as the states do not usually share what training they have had.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Major medical groups condemn lethal injections so the people administering the drugs often have limited medical qualifications, experts said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
The secretary of state is in charge of administering statewide elections, providing information about ballot measures and candidates to voters and overseeing campaign financing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
And they did: “My friends inform me that Mr. A. speaks of me with great friendship,” Jefferson observed, “and with satisfaction in the prospect of administering the government in concurrence with me.”
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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