Apply — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈplī/ ap·ply

Meaning & Definition of Apply

Apply (verb)

  1. to put to use especially for some practical purpose
  2. to bring into action
  3. to lay or spread on

Apply (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have a relation or connection

    "does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?"

    similar: appertain, bear, pertain, refer, relate, have to do with
    related: affect, concern, interest, involve, touch, associate, connect, couple, interrelate, link, tie in, deal (with), treat

  2. to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

    "Sam applied himself to writing thank-you letters to everyone who'd helped sponsor him for the charity walk"

    similar: address, bend, buckle, devote, give, get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand
    related: readdress, reapply, knuckle down, set (to), settle (down), busy, commit, concern, engage, involve, exert, exhaust, put out, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out, carry on, pitch in, plunge (in), grind, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug (away), work
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

  3. to put a layer of on a surface

    "apply the ointment liberally"

    similar: lay, lay on, spread
    related: anoint, bedaub, besmear, dab, daub, plaster, slather, smear, blanket, carpet, coat, cover, layer, mantle, overlay, overlie, overspread, sheet, surface
    near: bare, expose, peel, strip, uncover

  4. to put into action or service

    "apply the laws of motion to this physics problem"

    similar: employ, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, use, utilize, bring to bear, draw on, make use of
    related: handle, manipulate, wield, direct, run, work, cannibalize, recycle, reuse
    near: ignore, neglect, misapply, misuse

  5. to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively

    "apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding"

    similar: exercise, exert, ply, put out, wield
    related: employ, use, utilize, abuse, misapply, misuse

  6. to carry out effectively

    "a police officer applying the law"

    similar: administer, enforce, execute, implement
    related: bring about, effect, effectuate, discharge, fulfill, render, cite, invoke, enact, legislate, honor, observe, uphold, prosecute, promulgate
    near: disregard, ignore, neglect

Related Entry: Apply (for) (verb)

Apply (for) is a different word from Apply. The synonyms below are for apply (for), not for apply.

  1. as in beg (for), wish (for)

    similar: beg (for), claim, clamor (for), importune, urge, wish (for), ask (for), bespeak, call (for), desire, plead (for), quest, request, seek, solicit, speak (for), sue (for), demand, enjoin, exact, insist (on), petition (for), press (for), require, requisition, invite, invoke

Related Entry: Apply (oneself) (verb)

Apply (oneself) is a different word from Apply. The synonyms below are for apply (oneself), not for apply.

  1. as in pitch in, dig in

    similar: buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade
    opposite: break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about (British), mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Related Entry: Apply (to) (verb)

Apply (to) is a different word from Apply. The synonyms below are for apply (to), not for apply.

  1. as in refer (to), relate (to)

    similar: appertain (to), bear (on), pertain (to), refer (to), relate (to), affect, concern, involve, touch, embroil, ensnare, entangle, implicate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Apply

The most common words with a similar meaning to Apply:

appertain, bear, pertain, refer, relate, address, bend, buckle, devote, give, lay, lay on, spread, employ, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, use, utilize, exert, ply, put out, wield, administer, enforce, execute, implement, have to do with, get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand, bring to bear, draw on, make use of

Related Words for Apply

affect, concern, interest, involve, touch, associate, connect, couple, interrelate, link, tie in, deal (with), treat, readdress, reapply, knuckle down, set (to), settle (down), busy, commit, engage, exhaust, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out, carry on, pitch in

Near Antonyms of Apply

dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle, bare, expose, peel, strip, uncover, ignore, neglect, misapply, misuse, disregard

Word Forms of Apply

Inflections: applied, applying

Derived words: applier (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Apply

Middle English aplien, applien "to join, combine, use for a certain purpose, put to use (an expression, word), strive (to do something)," borrowed from Anglo-French aplier, applier "to put to use or operation, attach to oneself, conform, bend" (continental Middle French apploier, applier "to employ, put to use"), going back to Latin applicāre "to bring into contact (with), situate near, bring to bear (on), make applicable or relevant (to)," from ap- ap-:1 + -plicāre "to fold, bend" ply:3

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Apply

Words & Phrases Containing Apply

apply for college, apply oneself

Frequently Asked Questions about Apply

What does "Apply" mean?

"Apply" means to put to use especially for some practical purpose. As a verb, it is defined as: to put to use especially for some practical purpose. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Apply"?

Other words for "Apply" include appertain, bear, pertain, refer, relate, address, bend and buckle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Apply" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Apply"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Apply". Common alternatives include appertain, bear, pertain, refer, relate, address, bend, buckle, devote and give.

How do you use "Apply" in a sentence?

Examples of "Apply" in a sentence: "does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?"; "Sam applied himself to writing thank-you letters to everyone who'd helped sponsor him for the charity walk"; "apply the ointment liberally".

Is "Apply" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Apply" is a verb.

Is "Apply" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Apply" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Apply"?

"Apply" is pronounced /ə-ˈplī/ and divided into syllables as ap·ply.

What is the origin of the word "Apply"?

"Apply" comes from Middle English aplien, applien "to join, combine, use for a certain purpose, put to use (an expression, word), strive (to do something)," borrowed from Anglo-French aplier, applier "to put to use or operation, attach to oneself, conform, bend" (continental Middle French apploier, applier "to employ, put to use"), going back to Latin applicāre "to bring into contact (with), situate near, bring to bear (on), make applicable or relevant (to)," from ap- ap-:1 + -plicāre "to fold, bend" ply:3. First known use: 14th centuryt.