administer

IPA/ədˈmɪnɪstə(r)/
KK[ədmˈɪnəstɚ]IPA/ədˈmɪnɪstər/

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

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to take official responsibility for how a company, school, hospital, or large program runs each day, including its staff, money, and rules.

Example

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]

Common collocations
  • administer a fund
  • administer a program
  • administer a hospital
  • administer the affairs of
Synonyms
  • manage

    more general and far more common; 'administer' sounds more formal and official

  • run

    informal everyday equivalent for businesses and programs

  • oversee

    stresses watching and checking rather than full day-to-day control

Grammar Patterns

administer + [organization/program]

be administered by + [body]

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

Mia administers her own homework every night.
Mia manages her own homework every night.
'administer' needs a sizeable organization or program as the object, not a personal task.

2. to rule a country, colony, or area on behalf of a government, making official de

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to rule a country, colony, or area on behalf of a government, making official decisions about laws, taxes, and public services.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • administer a country
  • administer a region
  • administer a territory
  • administer a colony
Synonyms
  • 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

Grammar Patterns

administer + [country/region]

be administered by + [authority]

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

The mayor administers a small bakery on weekends.
The mayor administers the city of Hsinchu.
for businesses use 'manage' or sense 1; sense 2 takes a political area.

3. to officially give something such as medicine, an injection, first aid, a punish

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

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.

Example

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]

Common collocations
  • administer a drug
  • administer a vaccine
  • administer first aid
  • administer a test
  • administer a punishment
Synonyms
  • give

    neutral everyday word; 'administer' is the formal medical or official version

  • dispense

    stresses handing out portions, often by a pharmacist or machine

  • deliver

    for blows, speeches, or punishments; rarely for medicine

Antonyms
  • withhold

    to refuse to give something that should be given

Grammar Patterns

administer + [medicine/test/aid] + to + [person]

administer + [person] + [medicine/test]

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

My friend administered me some birthday cake.
My friend gave me some birthday cake.
'administer' is reserved for medicine, tests, aid, punishments, and other formal acts, not casual giving.

4. to officially lead someone in saying an oath — for example, a judge having a new

4.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

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.

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • administer an oath
  • administer the oath of office
  • administer an oath to a witness
Synonyms
  • swear in

    common phrasal-verb equivalent: 'swear in the new president'

Grammar Patterns

administer + an oath + to + [person]

administer + the oath of office

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

My father administered an oath to me before my wedding.
My father made me promise something before my wedding.
'administer an oath' is a legal or official action by a judge or clerk, not a casual private promise.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs cover being in charge of an organization or activity, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Manage' is the everyday neutral choice and works in any register: a parent manages a household, a CEO manages a company. 'Run' is even more informal and stresses keeping things moving day-to-day, especially for a business or event. 'Administer' is markedly formal and suggests an official, rule-bound role over a sizeable institution, fund, or public program — often involving paperwork and accountability. 'Oversee' emphasises watching, reviewing, and approving rather than handling daily details. 'Govern' is reserved for political authority over a country or region, like sense 2 of 'administer'. Compare: 'She manages a small café' (everyday), 'She runs the café smoothly' (informal, hands-on), 'She administers the café chain's training fund' (formal, official program).

administer ↗manage ↗run ↗oversee ↗govern ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • administer the affairs of
  • administer the oath of office
  • administer first aid
  • be jointly administered

Prepositions

  • administered by
  • administered to
  • administered through
  • administered under

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Administer' comes from the Latin verb 'administrare', built from 'ad-' ('to, towards') plus 'ministrare' ('to serve, to attend to'), which itself comes from 'minister', meaning 'a servant'. The word entered Middle English in the 14th century through Old French, first used in religious and legal settings — a priest 'administered' the sacraments, a court 'administered' justice. From this idea of carrying out a service on behalf of a higher authority grew the modern senses: looking after an organization, ruling a region, giving someone medicine, and conducting an oath.