prescribe
Americanverb (used with object)
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prescribes,
present (3rd person singular)
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prescribed,
past participle, past
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prescribing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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prescribes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prescribed,
past participle, past
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prescribing
present participle
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Medicine/Medical. to designate remedies, treatment, etc., to be used.
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Law. to claim a right or title by virtue of long use and enjoyment; make a prescriptive claim. (usually followed by for orto ).
verb
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to lay down as a rule or directive
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law to claim or acquire (a right, title, etc) by prescription
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law to make or become invalid or unenforceable by lapse of time
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med to recommend or order the use of (a drug or other remedy)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonprescribernoun
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prescribernoun
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misprescribeverb
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overprescribeverb
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represcribeverb (used with object)
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prescribableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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prescribesimple
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prescribessimple
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have prescribedperfect
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has prescribedperfect
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am prescribingprogressive
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are prescribingprogressive
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is prescribingprogressive
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have been prescribingperfect progressive
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has been prescribingperfect progressive
Past
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prescribedsimple
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had prescribedperfect
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was prescribingprogressive
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were prescribingprogressive
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had been prescribingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing prescribe
Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
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Commonly Confused Words, List 2
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"Preamble" and "Bill of Rights," Vocabulary from the U.S. Constitution
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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:
Twenty-seven states would eventually make laetrile legal to prescribe in some cases.
From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026
The 9th Circuit judges in Friday’s opinion said that “this clause expressly dictates which sovereign has the authority to prescribe the manner in which congressional elections are conducted.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
We sent a freedom of information request to every health board in Scotland, asking them if they prescribe the jabs to patients specifically for weight loss.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Larger trials, longer follow-up periods, and practical methods for delivering the treatment will be needed before clinicians can routinely prescribe it.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
Before long she was delivering so many babies that Audrey and I spent our days driving around the valley with her, watching her conduct prenatal exams and prescribe herbs.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
During a recent interview with the financial influencer Haley Sacks, who is known as Mrs. Dow Jones, the plastic surgeon Ryan Neinstein said he prescribes them to patients.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
The Journal prescribes no political or analytical framework.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
"I want every person who prescribes the drug to warn women of the possible side effects," she added.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
When he gets sedentary patients, Alter prescribes exercise like a drug.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
“I watch the sardines,” murmurs Madame, “and the termites, and the crows . . .” Etienne summons a doctor who prescribes rest, aspirin, and aromatic violet comfits.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Dr. Hviid said: "Because of the high cost, we assume that compliance is very high among the women prescribed GLP-1 RAs."
From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026
He gave me a preliminary diagnosis and prescribed me birth control, which can help manage symptoms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
No one knows what health problems they might face in the coming year, whether they’ll need a new specialist or be prescribed expensive medication.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026
“It seemed to have a positive outcome on a lot of people. So we did what they prescribed to do.”
From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026
They prescribed vitamins and sugar pills and pills to make her sleep, but Celia diminished, ever more pallid, in her bed.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
In places where laws were already on the books, doctors couldn’t be prosecuted for prescribing it, but patients stopped asking for it.
From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026
The analysis looked at NHS prescribing across all Scottish boards from September 2020 to August 2025.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
For now, the model provides a research framework rather than a ready-to-use method for prescribing personalized diets.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Government can use its purchasing and research policies to reward strong security and safety practices without prescribing how a rapidly changing technology must develop.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
So I fall back on the support networks of my real-life social class, call the dermatologist I know in Key West, and bludgeon him into prescribing something sight unseen.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
