apply

American  

[uh-plahy] / əˈplaɪ /

verb (used with object)

applies, present (3rd person singular) applied, past participle, past applying present participle

1. to make use of as relevant, suitable, or pertinent.

   to apply a theory to a problem.

2. to put to use, especially for a particular purpose.

   to apply pressure to open a door.

3. to bring into action; use; employ.

   He applied the brakes and skidded to a stop.

   Synonyms:

   utilize

4. to use a label or other designation.

   Don't apply any such term to me.

5. to use for or assign to a specific purpose.

   He applied a portion of his salary each week to savings.

   Synonyms:

   dedicate, assign, allot, appropriate

6. to put into effect.

   They applied the rules to new members only.

7. to devote or employ diligently or with close attention.

   to apply one's mind to a problem;

   to apply oneself to a task.

8. to place in contact with; lay or spread on.

   to apply paint to a wall;

   to apply a bandage to a wound.

9. to bring into physical contact with or close proximity to.

   to apply a match to gunpowder.

10. to credit to, as an account.

    to apply $10 to his account at the store.

---

verb (used without object)

applies, present (3rd person singular) applied, past participle, past applying present participle

1. to be pertinent, suitable, or relevant.

   The argument applies to the case.

   The theory doesn't apply.

2. to make an application or request; ask.

   to apply for a job;

   to apply for a raise.

   Synonyms:

   entreat, sue, petition

3. to lay or spread on.

   The plastic coating is easy to apply on any surface.

4. to be placed or remain in contact.

   This paint doesn't apply very easily.

apply British  

/ əˈplaɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to put to practical use; utilize; employ

2. (intr) to be relevant, useful, or appropriate

3. (tr) to cause to come into contact with; put onto

4. to put in an application or request

5. to devote (oneself, one's efforts) with diligence

6. (tr) to bring into operation or use

   the police only applied the law to aliens

7. (tr) to refer (a word, epithet, etc) to a person or thing

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• appliableness
  noun
• applier
  noun
• reapply
  verb
• preapply
  verb (used with object)
• appliable
  adjective
• unappliable
  adjective
• appliably
  adverb
• unappliably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• applying
  present
• applied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• apply
  simple
• applies
  simple
• have applied
  perfect
• has applied
  perfect
• am applying
  progressive
• are applying
  progressive
• is applying
  progressive
• have been applying
  perfect progressive
• has been applying
  perfect progressive

Past

• applied
  simple
• had applied
  perfect
• was applying
  progressive
• were applying
  progressive
• had been applying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will apply
  simple
• will have applied
  perfect
• will be applying
  progressive
• will have been applying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of apply

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ap(p)lien, from Anglo-French, Old French ap(p)lier, from Latin applicāre, equivalent to ap- ap- ¹ ( def. ) + plicāre “to fold”; see ply ² ( def. )

Explanation

Apply means to put on a surface, like to apply makeup to your face before work. Apply also means to ask in a formal way. Long before you applied the makeup, you had to apply for the job. You can apply the word apply to many situations, including when you make use of something — like when you apply the brakes on a car. Apply also means to really put effort into a task, like to apply yourself to learning Greek or reaching the next level on your favorite video game. But then again, maybe those examples don’t apply.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

apply applies applied applying

Those who apply within six months of the rule’s start can get a temporary pass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Sitting judges arguably have the best informed perspective on this Supreme Court: They must apply its jurisprudence, reconcile its contradictions, and confront the real-world effects of its rulings.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

Students would need to apply for an extension of status if they want to stay longer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

The Cabinet Office says it intends for its proposals to apply in England, Wales and Scotland, with the exact terms set out in legislation following a consultation with industry ending in October.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Somewhat surprisingly, the same principles apply to inanimate matter, as we shall see.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

“These five jurisdictions had every chance to follow the law and plan for their fair share of housing. ... Housing law applies statewide, and no city gets a pass.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

She pulls a hand-held camera from her purse, adjusts her soft curls, and applies a fresh coat of lip gloss.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Moir added: "I'll stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson's case."

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Former Arsenal midfielder and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey applies a tourniquet, while ex-Chelsea and Argentina goalkeeper Willy Caballero comforts the casualty.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

“A person who applies motion study can be in and out of the tub in the time it takes one record to play.”

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Researchers then applied the newly measured rate to 457 koala genomes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

If your house is damaged and you file a homeowners insurance claim, you might be surprised at how low the adjuster’s estimate is, and how low your payout will be after your deductible is applied.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

Eddins’ majority applied the false-evidence standard used when prosecutors knowingly present untrue testimony, holding that the state constitution makes the prosecutor’s knowledge irrelevant.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

But this summer, it put out a call for European “ranchbassadors” and thousands of people applied for the job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

I was stretched out with an ear applied to the floor, trying to listen in on the school board meeting below.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

As studios and TV networks have shed jobs over the years, more entertainment workers are applying their expertise at major YouTube creator-led businesses, which have continued to grow their audiences.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

"They're in an environment that's really unfamiliar to them, and we're applying pressure in a number of different ways," says Matt Johns, who founded Fieri, the company which runs this course.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

The measurements showed that applying an electric field not only increased the speed of the phonons but also significantly extended how long they survived before scattering.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

In late May we reconvened in Athens, inviting other faith leaders to join us in developing and applying that ethical language.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

“Because you’re applying to Yale and I’m in summer school.”

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Related Words

• administer
• employ
• exercise
• handle
• implement
• practice