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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

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

With an 82-80 record, the 2005 San Diego Padres currently hold the dubious honor of being the worst squad ever to qualify for the playoffs in an uninterrupted season.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Under the new changes, those who qualify for a second year will have to go into a ballot with a cap of 45,000, down from the 57,000 who qualified last year.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Quammen said people with puppies or kittens might consider getting insurance, because younger animals are less likely to have pre-existing conditions that might not qualify for coverage.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

And you qualify for Defense Against the Dark Arts with ‘Exceeds Expectations.’

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

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

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

Wainschel, a vice president at an automotive marketing technology company, says he doesn’t think his outreach qualifies as helicoptering.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

What happens if someone later becomes disabled, or leaves behind a spouse — or even a divorced spouse — who qualifies for survivor benefits?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

Then he opens the lid...and within moments, I’m looking down into what definitely qualifies as a treasure.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

The researchers had access to a special version of Claude Opus 4.8, made available to qualified cybersecurity practitioners, and they asked it to write code that would exploit this bug in a cyberattack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Details are still being worked out,, but the study assumed a transferable credit with a minimum rate of 20% on qualified spending for U.S. resident labor — broadly what industry groups have supported.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

CMS has said a qualified human clinician must review all denials of care.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

But that qualified because of its financial and broadcast partnerships in the US, including creator and star Dan Levy's own American-based production company.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Without some capacity for it I could not have qualified as a Mobile, and I received formal training in it on Hain, where they dignify it with the title of Farfetching.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

From that perspective then, qualifying and playing in Europe might simply appear the next logical step for a well-run and ambitious club.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 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

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is about liquidating qualifying assets to pay off your debt.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Not qualifying for invoicing didn’t stop Taskrabbit, which was eager to test the service.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

With motivation like that, you can bet I hit all my routines at the Region 3 Championships that spring, placing first on floor and second all-around, and qualifying for Westerns.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

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