qualify
Americanverb (used with object)
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to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, credentials, etc.; make competent.
to qualify oneself for a job.
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to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive.
to qualify an endorsement.
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Grammar. to modify.
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to make less violent, severe, or unpleasant; moderate; mitigate.
- Synonyms:
- diminish, reduce, temper, soften, ameliorate
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to attribute some quality or qualities to; characterize, call, or name.
She cannot qualify his attitude as either rational or irrational.
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to modify or alter the flavor or strength of.
He qualified his coffee with a few drops of brandy.
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Law. to certify as legally competent.
verb (used without object)
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to be fitted or competent for something.
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to get authority, license, power, etc., as by fulfilling required conditions, taking an oath, etc.
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Sports. to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest.
He qualified in the trials.
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to fire a rifle or pistol on a target range for a score high enough to achieve a rating of marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.
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Military. to pass a practical test in gunnery.
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Law. to perform the actions necessary to acquire legal power or capacity.
By filing a bond and taking an oath he qualified as executor.
verb
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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?
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(tr) to make less strong, harsh, or violent; moderate or restrict
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(tr) to modify or change the strength or flavour of
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(tr) grammar another word for modify
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(tr) to attribute a quality to; characterize
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(intr) to progress to the final stages of a competition, as by winning preliminary contests
Related Words
See modify.
Other Word Forms
- misqualify verb
- nonqualifying adjective
- overqualify verb
- prequalify verb
- qualifiable adjective
- qualificatory adjective
- qualifyingly adverb
- requalify verb
- superqualify verb
- unqualifying adjective
- unqualifyingly adverb
- unrequalified adjective
Etymology
Origin of qualify
First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin quālificāre, from Latin quāl(is) “of what sort” + -ificāre -ify
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.
She fought back tears as she explained she qualified for no support.
From BBC
So, what’s a traveler who’s stymied by the fact that they don’t qualify for those higher tiers and may miss out on getting that coveted bin space for their carry-on to do?
From MarketWatch
There was jubilation when the Scottish men's team qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years.
From BBC
Earlier, ICC sources told AFP that Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland, who are the highest-ranked team that did not qualify for the World Cup.
From Barron's
If your brother-in-law does not have the credit score or income to qualify for a loan, you have your answer.
From MarketWatch
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.
