Synonyms

qualify

American

[kwol-uh-fahy] / ˈkwɒl əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, credentials, etc.; make competent.

to qualify oneself for a job.

Synonyms:

equip, prepare, adapt, suit, fit
to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive.

to qualify an endorsement.

Synonyms:

restrict, narrow
Grammar. to modify.
to make less violent, severe, or unpleasant; moderate; mitigate.

Synonyms:

diminish, reduce, temper, soften, ameliorate
to attribute some quality or qualities to; characterize, call, or name.

She cannot qualify his attitude as either rational or irrational.

Synonyms:

designate, label
to modify or alter the flavor or strength of.

He qualified his coffee with a few drops of brandy.
Law. to certify as legally competent.

verb (used without object)

to be fitted or competent for something.
to get authority, license, power, etc., as by fulfilling required conditions, taking an oath, etc.
Sports. to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest.

He qualified in the trials.
to fire a rifle or pistol on a target range for a score high enough to achieve a rating of marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.
Military. to pass a practical test in gunnery.
Law. to perform the actions necessary to acquire legal power or capacity.

By filing a bond and taking an oath he qualified as executor.

qualify British

/ ˈkwɒlɪˌfaɪ, -ˌkeɪ- /

verb

to provide or be provided with the abilities or attributes necessary for a task, office, duty, etc

his degree qualifies him for the job
he qualifies for the job, but would he do it well?
(tr) to make less strong, harsh, or violent; moderate or restrict
(tr) to modify or change the strength or flavour of
(tr) grammar another word for modify
(tr) to attribute a quality to; characterize
(intr) to progress to the final stages of a competition, as by winning preliminary contests

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See modify.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of qualify

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin quālificāre, from Latin quāl(is) “of what sort” + -ificāre -ify

Explanation

Make sure you know the context when using the word qualify. In one sense, it means to be right for, to measure up. In another sense, though, qualify means to change something slightly, to limit it or add a condition to it. If you want to qualify for your driver's license, remember not to drive through that final stop sign without stopping. I guarantee you that if you don't stop you will not qualify. You don't just get your Eagle Badge. You have to qualify for it—there's a lot to do before you get it. The word might be used in its other sense like this: If you plan to get married, keep your vows simple: say "I do." Don't qualify them by saying something like "I do...except sometimes, when I don't." If you have to qualify your wedding vows, don't get married.

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Vocabulary lists containing qualify

40 SAT words Beginning with "Q"

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Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q

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List 2

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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.

See Examples For:

qualify qualifies qualified qualifying

She also used what she learned in the class to help her mother set up auto-pay on recurring payments and increase her credit score so that she could qualify for a car loan.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

But that streak came to an end last year when Sunderland finished seventh to qualify for Europe and Leeds came 14th.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

The record of the 2005 San Diego Padres, the worst squad ever to qualify for the MLB playoffs in an uninterrupted season—a dubious distinction that could fall this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

For something to qualify as a blood group system, researchers must connect an antigen to a defined genetic and molecular basis.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

Other population centers of states outside the capital may also qualify as true cities, which are lacking in chiefdoms.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

The treaty does not specify the geographical criteria of a European state, but it's hard to imagine Canada qualifies.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

If a utility sells 100 MWh of electricity, but only 50 MWh qualifies as renewable while the state requires 60 MWh, it can buy 10 RECs from another renewable generator to close the gap.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

While some films’ merit is debatable, it’s refreshing regardless that the conversations around what qualifies as an “awards movie” are in flux.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026

Each illustration features something with a motor or an alien creature that qualifies as transport.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

I guess I could stick with the line about the sandwich, but it hardly qualifies as newsworthy.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

That money could soon be flowing elsewhere because donors in a a state that opts out can still give to qualified recipients in other states.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Once you have recommendations, hire a qualified contractor with a current state license and insurance and an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture on staff, she advised.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Brown is a medical doctor who qualified in Rwanda in the 1980s.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Under the plan, visitors to places like Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor over half-term who had "difficulty with crowds" would no longer have qualified.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The points accumulated from all of these competitions would make up the US national rankings, and the top four finishers qualified for the national team for the following season.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

In that case, surely two great qualifying sessions is better than one?

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The seven winners of this weekend's qualifying ties will join three-time defending champions Italy in the final eight stage in Bologna from 24 to 29 November.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Great Britain beat Norway 4-0 in the first qualifying round in February and are trying to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2023.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

The new exemptions will take effect beginning Jan. 1, 2028, and apply to qualifying cars manufactured before the 1981 model year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

“I’m sitting here looking at your rankings. Did you know you’re only one result away from qualifying for the Junior Olympics next month?”

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023