administer
/ədˈmɪnɪstə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ədˈmɪnɪstər/ (ame, ipa) · /əd-ˈmi-nə-stər/ (ame, mw)
administer — verb
- administerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- administershe / she / it
- administeredpast simple
- administering-ing form
1. to take official responsibility for how a company, school, hospital, or large pr
to take official responsibility for how a company, school, hospital, or large program runs each day, including its staff, money, and rules.
Ms. Lin has administered the children's hospital in Taipei for fifteen years.
subject is a person in charge of an institution
The scholarship fund is administered by a small team of three retired teachers.
passive: be administered by + [body]
A new committee will administer the village library after the old board resigns.
Viraj was hired to administer the daily operations of two coffee shops.
Local councils administer most public parks, schools, and rubbish collection in this region.
文法句型
administer + [organization/program]
be administered by + [body]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, committee, or institution; object is usually a sizeable organization, fund, or program rather than a small task. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense covers private bodies and programs, not the governing of a country or region.
常見錯誤
2. to rule a country, colony, or area on behalf of a government, making official de
to rule a country, colony, or area on behalf of a government, making official decisions about laws, taxes, and public services.
Hong Kong was administered by Britain for more than a century before 1997.
passive: be administered by + [country]
The northern islands are administered directly from the capital by a small office.
After the war, the United Nations administered the territory for almost ten years.
Governor Suzuki administers the prefecture with help from elected local mayors.
- govern
near-equivalent; 'govern' is more common in everyday writing
- rule
stronger sense of authority and power, often a single ruler
- preside over
more ceremonial; suggests being the visible head
文法句型
administer + [country/region]
be administered by + [authority]
用法筆記
Object is a political area such as a country, colony, region, or territory, not a private organization. Frequently passive when naming the ruling power. Distinguish from sense 1, where the object is a company or program.
常見錯誤
3. to officially give something such as medicine, an injection, first aid, a punish
to officially give something such as medicine, an injection, first aid, a punishment, or a test to a person, in a careful and controlled way — for example, a nurse giving a vaccine, or a teacher giving an exam.
Nurse Patel administered the flu vaccine to every child in the morning class.
administer + [medicine] + to + [person]
Paramedics quickly administered first aid to the cyclist at the side of the road.
administer + first aid + to + [person]
Ms. Cheng will administer the math exam to all eighth-grade students on Friday.
The judge administered a strict punishment for repeat traffic offences.
Two drops of the medicine are administered under the tongue every six hours.
- withhold
to refuse to give something that should be given
文法句型
administer + [medicine/test/aid] + to + [person]
administer + [person] + [medicine/test]
用法筆記
Common objects are 'medicine', 'a vaccine', 'an injection', 'first aid', 'a test', 'an exam', 'a punishment', 'an oath'. Sounds formal or technical; everyday speech prefers 'give'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the object is a single thing handed to a person, not an entire institution.
常見錯誤
4. to officially lead someone in saying an oath — for example, a judge having a new
to officially lead someone in saying an oath — for example, a judge having a new president repeat the words of a formal promise out loud at a ceremony.
Chief Justice Wong administered the oath of office to the new president on Monday morning.
administer + the oath of office + to + [person]
A senior judge will administer the oath to every new police officer at the academy.
The court clerk quietly administered an oath to each witness before they spoke.
The mayor was nervous as the governor administered her oath in front of the crowd.
- swear in
common phrasal-verb equivalent: 'swear in the new president'
文法句型
administer + an oath + to + [person]
administer + the oath of office
用法筆記
Almost always 'administer an oath' or 'administer the oath of office', followed by 'to + [person]'. Subject is a judge, clerk, or other official with the legal right to do this. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense names a specific ceremonial speech act, not the giving of medicine or a test.