prescribe

/prɪˈskraɪb/ (bre, ipa) · /prɪˈskraɪb/ (ame, ipa) · /pri-ˈskrīb/ (ame, mw)

prescribe — verb

1. If a doctor prescribes a medicine or treatment, they decide which one a patient

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

If a doctor prescribes a medicine or treatment, they decide which one a patient needs and write an official note that lets the patient get it from a pharmacy.

例句

Dr. Tanaka prescribed antibiotics for Lina's chest infection.

prescribe + medicine + for + somebody

The doctor prescribed Marcus a stronger painkiller after the surgery.

prescribe + somebody + medicine (two objects)

同義詞
  • order

    more general; in medicine often used for tests or procedures rather than drugs

  • recommend

    softer; suggests an option rather than an authoritative instruction

文法句型

prescribe + medicine/treatment

prescribe + somebody + medicine

prescribe + medicine + for + somebody

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a doctor, clinic, or hospital. The thing prescribed is a medicine, drug, or specific therapy — not a general piece of advice like 'rest more'.

常見錯誤

❌The pharmacist prescribed me cough syrup.
✅The pharmacist recommended cough syrup; my doctor prescribed it.
💡only doctors (or licensed prescribers) prescribe; pharmacists dispense.
❌The doctor prescribed me to take rest.
✅The doctor told me to rest.
💡'prescribe' takes a medicine or treatment as object, not a to-infinitive of advice.

2. to officially state, often in a law or set of rules, what someone must do or how

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to officially state, often in a law or set of rules, what someone must do or how something must be done — for example, a school dress code or a law on safety equipment.

例句

The company handbook prescribes how staff should respond to customer complaints.

prescribe + wh-clause (how)

Hong Kong law prescribes that all drivers must carry insurance.

prescribe + that-clause

同義詞
  • stipulate

    very close in formal contexts; 'stipulate' often appears in contracts and treaties

  • dictate

    stronger and sometimes negative; suggests forcing rather than formally setting

  • lay down

    phrasal and slightly less formal; common with 'rules' or 'the law'

反義詞
  • permit

    describes what is allowed, not what is required

文法句型

prescribe + noun

prescribe + that-clause

prescribe + wh-clause

用法筆記

Subject is typically a law, rule, contract, tradition, or institution — almost never an individual person. Frequently passive ('it is prescribed by law that…'). Distinguish from sense 1: the object here is a rule, period, or required action, not a medicine.

常見錯誤

❌My boss prescribed me to come early.
✅My boss told me to come early.' / ✅ 'Company policy prescribes an 8 a.m. start.
💡for personal instructions use 'tell' or 'order'; 'prescribe' needs a formal rule-making authority.
❌The law prescribes to wear a helmet.
✅The law prescribes that riders wear a helmet.
💡use a that-clause or a noun phrase, not a bare to-infinitive.