specify
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mention or name specifically or definitely; state in detail.
He did not specify the amount needed.
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to give a specific character to.
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to set forth as a specification.
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to name or state as a condition.
He specified that he be given my power of attorney.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to refer to or state specifically
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to state as a condition
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to state or include in the specification of
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of specify
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English specyfyen, from Old French specifier, from Medieval Latin specificāre “to describe, mention particularly,” from specific(us) specific + āre, infinitive verb suffix
Explanation
To explicitly name something or state a particular detail, you specify that thing. So, when you have a craving for dessert and you send someone to the store to buy ice cream, you may want to specify a flavor. If you assign something for a particular purpose, this verb means that you specify. Your parents can specify for safety's sake that you can only ride your bicycle on the sidewalk and not on the street. Another use of the verb specify is to give a set of requirements. If you have your grandmother's old recipe for snickerdoodle cookies, you may wonder what the recipe means when it specifies that you should add "a smidgen of molasses."
Vocabulary lists containing specify
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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STAAR English I: The Language of the Test 2
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STAAR English II: The Language of the Test 2
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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.
The company did not specify which of its 14 brands would start producing its "E-Cars" at Stellantis's Pomigliano d'Arco factory near Naples in Italy.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
Kaiser did not specify how ill those infected are, nor did they say specifically how the bacteria were detected.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Money exchange shops in the UK could take payment for the crossing, said Zia, although he did not specify which ones.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The CDC didn’t identify the person or specify the nature of their work.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
I can’t specify the exact things he said.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
