verb

prescribe

prih-SKRYB

verb

For a doctor or other licensed practitioner to formally order a medicine or treatment for a patient.

"The doctor prescribed antibiotics for the infection."

"Her physiotherapist prescribed a set of daily stretches."

To lay down as a rule or requirement; to specify how something must be done.

"The manual prescribes exactly how the machine should be maintained."

How to Use Prescribe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo officially order a treatment, or to set down a required rule or procedure.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "proscribe," which means to forbid — the opposite idea.

Easily confused with

proscribe

Common pairings

prescribe medication prescribe a course of action prescribed rules

prescribed past tense, prescribes singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The doctor _____ antibiotics for the infection.

From Latin praescribere, "to write before" — from prae- ("before") and scribere ("to write").

proscribe

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proscribe