specialize
Americanverb (used without object)
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specializes,
present (3rd person singular)
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specialized,
past participle, past
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specializing
present participle
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to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.; have a specialty.
The doctor specializes in gastroenterology.
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Biology. (of an organism or one of its organs) to be adapted to a special function or environment.
verb (used with object)
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specializes,
present (3rd person singular)
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specialized,
past participle, past
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specializing
present participle
-
to render special or specific; invest with a special character, function, etc.
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to adapt to special conditions; restrict to specific limits.
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to restrict payment of (a negotiable instrument) by endorsing over to a specific payee.
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to specify; particularize.
verb
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(intr) to train in or devote oneself to a particular area of study, occupation, or activity
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(usually passive) to cause (organisms or their parts) to develop in a way most suited to a particular environment or way of life or (of organisms, etc) to develop in this way
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(tr) to modify or make suitable for a special use or purpose
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(tr) to mention specifically; specify
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(tr) to endorse (a commercial paper) to a specific payee
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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specializationnoun
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overspecializeverb
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subspecializeverb
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prespecializeverb (used without object)
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superspecializeverb (used without object)
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nonspecializingadjective
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unspecializingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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specializesimple
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specializessimple
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have specializedperfect
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has specializedperfect
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am specializingprogressive
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are specializingprogressive
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is specializingprogressive
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have been specializingperfect progressive
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has been specializingperfect progressive
Past
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specializedsimple
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had specializedperfect
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was specializingprogressive
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were specializingprogressive
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had been specializingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of specialize
From the French word spécialiser, dating back to 1605–15; see special, -ize
Explanation
To specialize is to narrow down your focus, in your studies or profession, to a specific field. If you love playing the accordion, perhaps you should specialize in polka music. If there’s a subject you think is special, specialize in it! For example, doctors start to specialize in medical school, when they study something specific such as podiatry (feet) or cardiology (hearts). Other professionals also specialize in smaller parts of larger fields, like lawyers who specialize in corporate law, or writers who specialize in TV comedies.
Vocabulary lists containing specialize
Drama
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African Civilizations, Lessons 1–2
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-ize
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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:
And a dwindling number of attorneys who specialize in death penalty cases meant 70% of condemned inmates did not have a lawyer at the end of last year, according to a state report.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Expect more than a dozen sculptural and diorama artists to contribute, along with those who specialize in mixed media for interactive and video content.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
He’ll study civil engineering and wait until grad school to specialize in transit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
These funds specialize in using derivatives in ways that are particularly appealing to older, more risk-averse investors, ETF industry experts said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
“It’s called Chan’s Art Emporium. It’s on Apablasa Street, just off Alameda. We specialize in Chinese art pieces and furniture. My father’s overseas now on a buying trip for stock.”
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
It specializes in what’s called trapped-ion quantum computers that have proved to offer greater accuracy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
The clouds were made in the Netherlands by a firm with a history of building steel ship hulls that now specializes in building complex steel constructions like the clouds using digital data.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
“The Houthis are definitely going to escalate,” said Adam Baron, a fellow at the New America Foundation in Washington who specializes in Yemen and the Persian Gulf.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Enlist a financial adviser who specializes in retirement and senior estate planning, and talk to friends and family about your wish to move.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
NOTE: Although percussion specializes in "noise"-type sounds, even instruments like snare drums follow the basic physics rule of "bigger instrument makes longer wavelengths and lower sounds."
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Solid chemical products are generally easier to store or reroute than liquids, which require specialized storage and transportation infrastructure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
It delivers specialized molecules known as effectors into cells in the leaves and stems.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Their online résumés suggest they mainly specialized in diversity, equity and inclusion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
He announced other measures including the appointment of a dedicated staff member to support individuals reporting sexual misconduct, and inviting specialized New York State Police detectives to probe future sexual assault allegations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
At that time, the Union Stock Yard was dominated by two other meat men: Philip Armour, who specialized in pork; and Nelson Morris, who dealt principally in beef.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
New Yorkers associate him with Hammer Galleries, specializing in impressionism and modern art.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
In earlier work, the researchers drew on the expertise of 12 international panelists specializing in internal medicine, geriatric medicine and clinical pharmacology to develop a list of 65 PIPCs.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
The US government has been pouring money into the development of companies specializing in separation, refining and magnet production.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
China’s universities turned out students specializing in computer vision, a branch of computer science that tries to teach machines to see as humans do.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
She wants to be a mycologist specializing in tropical fungi.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
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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.
