administer - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
administer Word Meanings
- to manage or oversee something
- to give out or dispense
- to apply a remedy or medication
administer Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
administer Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stə/
US
/ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɚ/
administer Word Etymology
Root decomposition: ad- = to/toward, minister = servant. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: Imagine a servant (minister) eagerly attending to a task, moving toward their duty with purpose.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I grip the bottle, tilt my wrist, and move the pills along the tray. I keep an eye on the clock as I distribute them, one after another. Feeling the weight of each small dose, I adjust my grip and the pace, making sure everyone gets what they need. That little rhythm of handing things out echoes how this action plays out in daily life when you oversee a task or apply something to someone.
Real Context
Administer is a versatile verb with three main uses. First, to administer something is to manage or supervise it, such as administering a program, a department, or a project. Second, it can mean to give out or dispense something to others, for example administering exams, distributing funds, or administering a survey. Third, in medical contexts it means to give a drug or treatment to a patient, as in administering an injection or administering an antibiotic. The word often appears in formal or bureaucratic language, and learners sometimes confuse it with administration as a noun or with the casual shorthand admin. Be mindful of the different complements that follow each sense.
Usage Reminders
- 1) Use administer for managing or supervising something.
- 2) Use administer to give out or dispense items like exams or medicines.
- 3) In medical contexts, administer means to give a drug to a patient.
- 4) Distinguish administer from administration (the noun) and from admin (informal abbreviation).
- 5) Watch the object that follows each sense: administer a program vs administer a drug.
Common Misconceptions
- Mistaking administer for a casual, everyday verb instead of a formal, administrative term.
- Confusing administer with admission or administration due to similar root forms.
- Thinking administering always means giving medication, ignoring management senses.
- Using administer in passive voice with the wrong agent (eg, the medication administered by the patient).
- Overgeneralizing to use administer with all kinds of actions instead of specific collocations.
Thinking Differences
English tends to separate manage from give out when needed; learners must notice collocations and formality differences.
Learning Tips
- Learn the three main senses first: manage, give out, and medical administration.
- Memorize common collocations: administer a program, administer a test, administer a drug.
- Differentiate noun administration from the verb administer.
- Practice passive sentences: the drug was administered by the nurse.
- Avoid mixing with admin; reserve admin for informal shorthand.
- Use context clues to choose the right object after each sense.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of 'administer'?
A.Cook
B.Sleep
C.Control
D.Read
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'administer' used correctly?
A.The cat administered the ball.
B.He administered the book.
C.She administered the delicious meal.
D.They administered outside.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'administer'?
A.Forget
B.Destroy
C.Build
D.Organize
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is the opposite of 'administer'?
A.Give
B.Receive
C.Control
D.Upset
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would someone 'administer' something?
A.Teaching a class
B.Eating dinner
C.Playing soccer
D.Watching a movie
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