specify
verb
spec·i·fy ˈspe-sə-ˌfī 
specified; specifying
transitive verb
1
: to name or state explicitly or in detail
2
: to include as an item in a specification
specifiable
ˌspe-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl
adjective specifier
ˈspe-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r
noun 
Synonyms
- define
- lay down
- prescribe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Can you specify the cause of the argument? Specify the color and quantity when you order. He clearly specified California wine. The instructions do not specify what kind of screws to use. All subscriptions are for one year unless otherwise specified. At the specified time, we rang the bell. She agreed to the terms specified in the contract. See More
Recent Examples on the Web In the instructions to enumerators that year, the Census Bureau felt the need to define a family but not to specify all the acceptable family relation labels. 
WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 Regrets, Rochelle Walensky has a few, though apparently too few to specify. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Some Democrats, like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, have asked the president to assert federal authority over the U.S. mail system to specify that no one will be prosecuted for prescribing or receiving the drugs through the Postal Service. Kimberly Kindy, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2022 The important thing to know is that all maps can be customized to identify different rooms and to specify areas to be cleaned or to avoid. Stewart Wolpin, Popular Mechanics, 12 Aug. 2022 Event organizers did not immediately respond to USA TODAY to specify why the festival was canceled. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 The bill aims to specify where guns are prohibited in California, including on school grounds and universities, public transportation, bars and public parks. Hannah Wileystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 The bill also would allow county corrections officers to carry firearms, specify that body camera footage from state prisons is a public record and let jail inmates use the internet to communicate with their lawyers or the courts. Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2022 The entertainment company did not specify if any other members of TWICE has tested positive for COVID-19, or if Jihyo will be absent from any of the group’s activities in regards to promoting their forthcoming album Between 1&2. Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
WIRED, 25 Aug. 2022 Regrets, Rochelle Walensky has a few, though apparently too few to specify. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Some Democrats, like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, have asked the president to assert federal authority over the U.S. mail system to specify that no one will be prosecuted for prescribing or receiving the drugs through the Postal Service. Kimberly Kindy, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2022 The important thing to know is that all maps can be customized to identify different rooms and to specify areas to be cleaned or to avoid. Stewart Wolpin, Popular Mechanics, 12 Aug. 2022 Event organizers did not immediately respond to USA TODAY to specify why the festival was canceled. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 The bill aims to specify where guns are prohibited in California, including on school grounds and universities, public transportation, bars and public parks. Hannah Wileystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 The bill also would allow county corrections officers to carry firearms, specify that body camera footage from state prisons is a public record and let jail inmates use the internet to communicate with their lawyers or the courts. Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2022 The entertainment company did not specify if any other members of TWICE has tested positive for COVID-19, or if Jihyo will be absent from any of the group’s activities in regards to promoting their forthcoming album Between 1&2. Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English specifien, from Anglo-French specifier, from Late Latin specificare, from specificus
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing specify
Kids Definition
specify
verb
spec·i·fy ˈspe-sə-ˌfī
specified; specifying
1
: to mention or name exactly and clearly
Can you specify the cause of the crash?
2
: to include in a description of work to be done or materials to be used
specifying
verb
1
as in defining
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly the document specifies precisely how you may use the information it contains Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- defining
- prescribing
- ordering
- directing
- arranging
- telling
- dictating
- assigning
- selecting
- instructing
- choosing
- setting
- controlling
- requiring
- decreeing
- managing
- laying down
- governing
- conducting
- ordaining
- fixing
- leading
- forcing
- enjoining
- bidding
- constraining
- commanding
- compelling
- obligating
- coercing
- settling
- charging
- adjuring
- obliging
2
as in mentioning
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically police reports didn't specify the model of car the robbers were driving Synonyms & Similar Words
- mentioning
- citing
- indicating
- noticing
- noting
- indicating
- quoting
- naming
- suggesting
- explaining
- introducing
- designating
- inferring
- implying
- clarifying
- announcing
- instancing
- intimating
- pronouncing
- signaling
- intending
- dropping
- signifying
- touching (on or upon)
- declaring
- adverting (to)
- publishing
- referring (to)
- interpolating
- denominating
- publicizing
- elucidating
- proclaiming
- advertising
- signalling
- insinuating
- explicating
- interjecting
- interposing
- broadcasting
- infiltrating
- broaching
- alluding (to)
- bringing up
- hinting (at)
- spelling out
- sounding
- pointing (out)
- worming
- clearing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- disregarding
- forgetting
- neglecting
- overlooking
- slighting
- passing over
- overpassing
- imperate
- imperation
- imperatival
- imperativally
- imperative
- imperatively
- imperativeness
- imperativenesses
- imperatives
- imperator
- imperatorial
- imperatorious
- imperators
- imperatorship
- imperceivable
- imperceptibilities
- imperceptibility
- imperceptible
- imperceptiblenesses
- imperceptibly
- imperceptive
- imperceptiveness
- imperceptivenesses
- imperceptivities
- impercipience