apply
verb (used with object)
to make use of as relevant, suitable, or pertinent.
applying
-
present participleof apply.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
Instead of adding pigments to produce color or applying persistent chemical coatings to control how surfaces interact with water, the researchers build those properties directly into the material's physical structure.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
The biggest reason: a 529 plan is a state-sponsored college tuition account, so your mother’s gift won’t count against her grandchildren when applying for financial aid.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Meanwhile, 75% of the 1,881 UK jobseekers polled in July by recruiter Gi Group say they would not be put off applying to an organisation that had introduced AI proficiency into individual performance reviews.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
“Instead of a student applying to the institution, the institution applies to them.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
By the time Descartes published the Discourse he had decided that the best way to introduce his philosophy was through applying scepticism absolutely to the limit.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
