apply
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make use of as relevant, suitable, or pertinent.
to apply a theory to a problem.
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to put to use, especially for a particular purpose.
to apply pressure to open a door.
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to bring into action; use; employ.
He applied the brakes and skidded to a stop.
- Synonyms:
- utilize
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to use a label or other designation.
Don't apply any such term to me.
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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
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to put into effect.
They applied the rules to new members only.
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to devote or employ diligently or with close attention.
to apply one's mind to a problem;
to apply oneself to a task.
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to place in contact with; lay or spread on.
to apply paint to a wall;
to apply a bandage to a wound.
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to bring into physical contact with or close proximity to.
to apply a match to gunpowder.
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to credit to, as an account.
to apply $10 to his account at the store.
verb (used without object)
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to be pertinent, suitable, or relevant.
The argument applies to the case.
The theory doesn't apply.
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to make an application or request; ask.
to apply for a job;
to apply for a raise.
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to lay or spread on.
The plastic coating is easy to apply on any surface.
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to be placed or remain in contact.
This paint doesn't apply very easily.
verb
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(tr) to put to practical use; utilize; employ
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(intr) to be relevant, useful, or appropriate
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(tr) to cause to come into contact with; put onto
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to put in an application or request
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to devote (oneself, one's efforts) with diligence
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(tr) to bring into operation or use
the police only applied the law to aliens
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(tr) to refer (a word, epithet, etc) to a person or thing
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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appliablenessnoun
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appliernoun
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reapplyverb
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preapplyverb (used with object)
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appliableadjective
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unappliableadjective
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appliablyadverb
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unappliablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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applysimple
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appliessimple
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have appliedperfect
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has appliedperfect
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am applyingprogressive
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are applyingprogressive
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is applyingprogressive
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have been applyingperfect progressive
-
has been applyingperfect progressive
Past
-
appliedsimple
-
had appliedperfect
-
was applyingprogressive
-
were applyingprogressive
-
had been applyingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing apply
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
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Word Generation Science - Energy
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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:
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is tweaking its measurement of the cost of investment management, software and legal services, and it will apply changes retroactively to the past five years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
But that's very different to knowing how he will apply those beliefs to specific decisions.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Students who need more time must apply to U.S.
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
“I was thinking, under the bed. I’ve been thinking for a while. You’ll have an income now. You could apply for more rooms.”
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
A footnote explains that the figure applies only to accounts with at least $50,000 in January 2025.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
It has been delayed by wrangling over how the duty applies to the intelligence services, with ministers recently breaking the deadlock with further amendments.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The July 9 action applies to a separate 220-mile pipeline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 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
But we have very little control over our human weaknesses, & this applies also to Fern & the hundreds of thousands of other people including ourselves—for we all have weaknesses.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
The following month, Wagh applied for a £50,000 loan, the maximum allowed under the scheme, for Talensetu UK Ltd.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
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
Looking for another way to serve, she again applied for jobs in the Navy.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
He added Wagh had become "confused" on one application and thought she was applying for a "top up" loan from the initial £18,000.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
She quit her data analysis job in Shenzhen to try her hand at entrepreneurship, but after failing to raise startup funding, she has been applying for roles with no luck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Martin O’Malley, who served as Social Security commissioner under the Biden administration, said the staffing issues and long wait times may discourage people from applying.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
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
We started with our makeup, applying eye shadow between bites of soup and tostadas.
From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
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.
