applied
Americanadjective
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having a practical purpose or use; derived from or involved with actual phenomena (distinguished from theoretical,opposed to pure).
applied mathematics; applied science.
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of or relating to those arts or crafts that have a primarily utilitarian function, or to the designs and decorations used in these arts.
Her goal was to integrate aesthetics into everyday life through an applied art, particularly with her hand-painted dinner plates.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of applied
Explanation
Something applied is practical, having to do with real-world situations and problems. Applied physics puts physics into use. If you have a mysterious lump, thank applied physics for the MRI the doctor uses to look inside your body. To apply is to make use of something, like applying a coat of paint. The past participle, applied describes things related to solving concrete problems, rather than dealing with ideas, principles, or philosophy. Applied chemistry, applied physics, and the applied sciences as a whole have to do with real-world issues. The opposite of applied is theoretical, which is only concerned with ideas.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Applied Digital will earn a guaranteed $5.2 billion from the new deal, with renewal options potentially taking that figure to $12.7 billion over 30 years.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Applied Digital has one so-called AI factory under construction in North Dakota and another in the state that is partially operational.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Applied Digital shares jump after announcing a 15-year lease deal at a new AI campus.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The hyperscaler already has two leases at other Applied Digital sites.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
Applied to an opponent, it means the habit of impudently claiming that black is white, in contradiction of the plain facts.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
