specifies

verb

present tense third-person singular of specify
1
as in defines
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
2
as in mentions
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of specifies Before sending any money, make sure the document specifies the total settlement amount, when each payment is due and that satisfying those terms will resolve the remaining balance as agreed. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 The plan also specifies rezoning along major commercial corridors, including Winchester Boulevard and The Alameda. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 The document also specifies that the tax would apply to any data centers located in space. — Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2026 The legislation also specifies that implementation depends on legislative funding. — Mckenna Mobley, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 Kansas law also specifies that your employer cannot count your usual lunch break toward these two hours. — Rashad Alexander august 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026 The gist is that Congress specifies the minimum set of nationwide protections, referred to as a federal floor, while the states then enact stricter requirements, doing so up to some maximum known as a state-level ceiling. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 The company uses whatever bricks and mortar a contractor already specifies, meaning regulators see nothing new to approve. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 15 July 2026 The document also specifies that if the quantity of those items does not fit into one 55-gallon plastic bag, a sergeant must weigh in on the next steps. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specifies
  1. defines
  2. mentions
  3. prescribes
  4. cites
  5. indicates
  6. notices
  7. notes
  8. quotes
Verb
  • What defines these destinations is not just their beauty, but their balance.
    — Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping Pluto a dwarf planet better defines what a planet is and prevents an awkward situation in the future in which schoolchildren (and the rest of us) would have to remember upwards of 100 planets.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of defines
Verb
  • Woodmansee also mentions exposure to sun, soil type, drainage, and moisture requirements as additional considerations.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The warrant also mentions at least three other victims who shared similar accounts with detectives.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of mentions
Verb
  • In the film, Dusty reinjures his wrist, and his doctor (Ben Stiller) prescribes pickleball to promote healing.
    — Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • So for patients in their late 40s and 50s with hot flashes or night sweats, Adams liberally prescribes hormone therapy unless patients have a clear medical reason not to.
    — Mara Gordon, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of prescribes
Verb
  • Koloski-Ostrow cites one ancient account of an intrepid octopus, which climbed out of a toilet to devour fish stored in the household pantry.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Bloomingdale’s chief merchant Denise Magid also cites backpacks as a strong and growing category, noting demand for classic Polo Ralph Lauren styles and bolder designs from brands like State and Sprayground.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of cites
Verb
  • Bessent’s answer indicates that US officials worry going after Chinese banks would be crossing a red line.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But the Department of Homeland Security's communication with those states since then indicates the numbers may have been inflated.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of indicates
Verb
  • Then, as Pike prepares to hand over the bridge to Lieutenant Rahda (Abinaya Sivakumaran), his replacement notices a slight shift in the ship’s trajectory.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • When the job takes her to an eastern Colorado cattle ranch, Jane notices that the family’s young daughter has precocious breast development as a result of the hormones the operation uses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of notices
Verb
  • The document notes that the demographic makeup of each potential zone is not necessarily the same as the makeup of the LRSD students in that zone.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But the new report notes that the AI agents spent considerably more time on this message board discussing those cybersecurity challenges that were extremely difficult, suggesting the agents had a high motivation to solve them.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of notes
Verb
  • When the National Review advocates impeaching a Republican president and favorably quotes Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff, that’s news.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
  • On the other hand, Hardwick quotes the leader of another troupe, who argues that kuda kepang performances should not include Islamic prayers.
    — H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of quotes

Browse Nearby Words

specified
specifies
specify
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Specifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specifies. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All