Cool MateAdminister vs Supervise
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Administer
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1verb
Supervise
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: AdministerMost common: Supervise
| Administer | Supervise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmɪnɪstə(r)/","/ədˈmɪnɪstəz/","/ədˈmɪnɪstəd/","/ədˈmɪnɪstərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmɪnɪstər/","/ədˈmɪnɪstərz/","/ədˈmɪnɪstərd/","/ədˈmɪnɪstərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsuːpəvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsuːpərvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To give or manage something, usually help or medicine. | To watch over and manage people or activities. |
| Example | The nurse will administer the vaccine to all eligible patients. | to supervise building work |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | effectively, efficiently, centrally, be difficult to, be easy to, be simple to | carefully, closely, directly, appoint somebody to, be responsible for supervising something |
| Antonyms | withhold, deny | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'administered' in past tense but forgets the context., Using 'administer' without specifying what is being given., Mixing it up with 'manage', which has a broader meaning. | Confused with 'supervisor' - remember 'supervise' is the action, while 'supervisor' is the person., Using 'supervise' in informal contexts where 'help' or 'watch' would be better., Omitting the object - 'supervise' should always have something that is being supervised. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts, often when discussing healthcare or management. Not appropriate in casual conversations. | Used in professional or educational contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms like 'watch' may be more appropriate. |
Frequently asked questions: Administer vs Supervise
What's the difference between Administer and Supervise?
Administer: To give or manage something, usually help or medicine. Supervise: To watch over and manage people or activities.
Which is more formal: Administer and Supervise?
Administer is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Administer and Supervise?
Supervise is the most common in everyday English.
Are Administer and Supervise the same CEFR level?
Administer: C1, Supervise: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Administer and Supervise interchangeably?
Not always. Administer and Supervise are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.