The important point concerning the complementary distribution is to specify the environment where the individual sounds occur.
Source: tatoeba (274154)
Specify
/ˈspɛs.əˌfaɪ/
Synonyms for "specify" (246 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (50)
Verb(18 words)
definedesignatenarrow downparticularizespecializeassigncallcall outchooseclarifiedclarifyclarify the issueclarifying phrasingclear upconcretiseconcretizeconditiondeclared
address toadduceadvert toallude toanatomizeassignatomizebaptizebe taken asboundbring to attentionbring to noticecallcall attention tochristencircle incircumscribecircumstantiatecitecondition
Show 1 more word
Noun(11 words)
assigningattribute termclarifyingclarifying questionclearly defined purposecommand setconcreteconcrete modelconcretesconcretingdeclaring
Strong matches (73)
Verb(20 words)
defineddelimitdelimitatedelineatedenotesdescribedesignate variabledestinedetaildeterminedisambiguateexplainexplicitizefixformulatingget something straightground a hypothesisidentifyintenditemizes
Noun(18 words)
defining termdefining worddesign attributedesign attribute valuesdesign propertydestination labeldetail typedetail worddetailing processdetailsdetermine the meandigital circuit designdimensionsdocument formatelaboratinginternally definedinventory itemsitalian stato
Adjective(2 words)
intensified noun phraseitemized
Related words (123)
Verb(33 words)
limitnail downnamenarrownarrowednominateoutlineparticulariseparticularizedparticularizespeg downpin downpinnedpinpointedprecisedprescriptqualifyselectsetset apart
Show 13 more words
Noun(34 words)
modifier typemore definingname featuresparticularizingpinningpinpointpolicy termposition descriptorpredicate wordprovided you havesensor network designset examplesingle word namespeccingstate authority documentsstate biology curriculumstate capitalstate curriculumstate departmentsstate education statute
Show 14 more words
state governance orientedstate government agenciesstate guidelinesstate judiciary reformstate matterstate of charge percentagestate of present momentstate programstate propaganda postersstate your positionstatesstipulatingstudy variablewelding step
Adjective(2 words)
operational targetprecise rule
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: define, designate, narrow down, particularize, specialize.
- Sentence evidence is available for specify, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "specify".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "specify"
Keep "specify" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "specify" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "specify", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "specify" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
23 entriesShowing 16 of 23 words.
More specific
10 entriesCollocations
6 entriesspecify the criteriaspecify the dataspecify the parametersspecify the requirementsspecify the unitsspecify the variables
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
32 translations across 20 languages.
Asturian
1 entries- especificar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Bulgarian
2 entries- определям verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- уточнявам verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Catalan
1 entries- especificar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Czech
2 entries- specifikovat verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- určit verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Dutch
1 entries- specificeren verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Esperanto
1 entries- precizigi verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Estonian
1 entries- täpsustama verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Finnish
4 entries- eritellä verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- määritellä verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- määrittää verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- spesifioida verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
French
1 entries- spécifier verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Galician
1 entries- especificar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Georgian
2 entries- აკონკრეტებს verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- დაკონკრეტება verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
German
1 entries- spezifizieren verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Greek
2 entries- προσδιορίζω verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- συγκεκριμενοποιώ verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Irish
1 entries- sonraigh verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Italian
1 entries- specificare verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Māori
2 entries- tautuhi verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- tauwhāiti verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Portuguese
1 entries- especificar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Spanish
3 entries- circunstanciar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- especificar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- pormenorizar verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Thai
1 entries- ระบุ verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Ukrainian
2 entries- специфікува́ти verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
- то́чно опи́сувати verb (state explicitly, in detail, or as a condition)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
He didn't specify when he would return.
Source: tatoeba (289238)
Please specify any conditions you have for the use of this information.
Source: tatoeba (827193)
When using this information, I will follow any conditions you specify, whether that's anonymity or giving detailed reference.
Source: tatoeba (828233)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "specify"?
Closest matches include define, designate, narrow down, particularize, specialize.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "specify"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.