prescribe

American  

[pri-skrahyb] / prɪˈskraɪb /

verb (used with object)

prescribed, prescribing

1. to lay down, in writing or otherwise, as a rule or a course of action to be followed; appoint, ordain, or enjoin.

   Synonyms:

   decree, dictate, direct

2. Medicine/Medical. to designate or order the use of (a medicine, remedy, treatment, etc.).

---

verb (used without object)

prescribed, prescribing

1. to lay down rules; direct; dictate.

2. Medicine/Medical. to designate remedies, treatment, etc., to be used.

3. Law. to claim a right or title by virtue of long use and enjoyment; make a prescriptive claim. (usually followed by for orto ).

prescribe British  

/ prɪˈskraɪb /

verb

1. to lay down as a rule or directive

2. law to claim or acquire (a right, title, etc) by prescription

3. law to make or become invalid or unenforceable by lapse of time

4. med to recommend or order the use of (a drug or other remedy)

---

Other Word Forms

• misprescribe
  verb
• nonprescriber
  noun
• overprescribe
  verb
• prescribable
  adjective
• prescriber
  noun
• represcribe
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of prescribe

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English from Latin praescrībere “to direct in writing,” literally, “to write before or above,” equivalent to prae- pre- + scrībere “to write”; see scribe ¹, prescription

Explanation

To prescribe is make orders or give directions for something to be done. These days, the word is mainly used by doctors who prescribe medications to take. Doctors do a lot of prescribing: they prescribe drugs, rest, exercise, and getting rid of bad habits like smoking. When a doctor prescribes something, he or she is saying, "You need to do this. You should do it." That's the most common use of prescribe, but it pops up anywhere someone is advising or ordering someone to do something. All laws and rules prescribe things — they tell you what to do.

Example Sentences

Providers also are preparing to prescribe a single-drug protocol via telehealth using misoprostol only.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

Although doctors in nearly two dozen states can safely prescribe medication abortion to women anywhere in the U.S., only a handful of specialty pharmacies actually fill those mail orders, Gomez explained.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

Doctors routinely prescribe them for miscarriage management, endometriosis, fibroids, complications from Cushing’s disease and other serious reproductive health conditions, where they can prevent infection or reduce severe pain.

From Salon • May 2, 2026

The BBC has spoken to a number of GPs who said they had made the "difficult decision" to prescribe antidepressants to under-18s with serious mental health problems on occasion.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

And third, genes had to explain development: How could individual units of instruction prescribe the code to create a mature organism out of an embryo?

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• define
• determine
• dictate
• establish
• impose
• lay down
• require
• specify