apply
Other forms: applied; applying; applies
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.
Definitions of apply
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put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose“Apply a magnetic field here”“This thinking was applied to many projects”“I apply this rule to get good results”
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types:
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commit, consecrate, dedicate, devote, give
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
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play
employ in a game or in a specific position
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play
use or move
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pull out all the stops
use all resources available
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assign, put
attribute or give
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ply
use diligently
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address
address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question
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waste
use inefficiently or inappropriately
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misapply, misuse
apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly
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avail
use to one's advantage
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overdrive, overuse
make use of too often or too extensively
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cannibalise, cannibalize
use parts of something to repair something else
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recycle, reprocess, reuse
use again after processing
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exploit, work
use or manipulate to one's advantage
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exploit, tap
draw from; make good use of
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extend, strain
use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity
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exercise, exert
put to use
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enjoy
have benefit from
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take
travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route
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share
use jointly or in common
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put to work, work
cause to work
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implement
apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design
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fall back, recur, resort
have recourse to
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manipulate
skillfully utilize, process, or operate on
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exercise, work, work out
give a workout to
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warm up
cause to do preliminary exercises so as to stretch the muscles
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maximise, maximize
make the most of
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consecrate, vow
dedicate to a deity by a vow
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rededicate
dedicate anew
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promote
change a pawn for a better piece by advancing it to the eighth row, or change a checker piece for a more valuable piece by moving it to the row closest to your opponent
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repose
put or confide something in a person or thing
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rehash
present or use over, with no or few changes
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make hay
turn to one's advantage
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play
use to one's advantage
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harness
exploit the power of
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mine
get from the earth by excavation
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quarry
extract (something such as stones) from or as if from a quarry
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overexploit
exploit excessively
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commercialise, commercialize
exploit for maximal profit, usually by sacrificing quality
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milk
exploit as much as possible
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overextend, overstrain
strain excessively
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task, tax
use to the limit
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avail, help
take or use
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feed, prey
profit from in an exploitatory manner
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computerise, computerize, cybernate
control a function, process, or creation by a computer
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reclaim, recover
reuse (materials from waste products)
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double up
share a room or a bed designed for only one person
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pool
combine into a common fund
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communalise, communalize
make something the property of the commune or community
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rack
put on a rack and pinion
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exploit, overwork
work excessively hard
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use
seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage
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parlay
exploit a skill or resource in order to get something of greater value
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avail oneself to
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ensure observance of laws and rules“Apply the rules to everyone”
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types:
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execute, run
carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
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execute
carry out the legalities of
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step
cause (a computer) to execute a single command
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give
execute and deliver
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be pertinent or relevant or applicable
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be applicable to; as to an analysis
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refer (a word or name) to a person or thing
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ask (for something)
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apply oneself to“Please apply yourself to your homework”
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type of:
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commit, consecrate, dedicate, devote, give
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
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commit, consecrate, dedicate, devote, give
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give or convey physically
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synonyms:
give
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give
give (as medicine)
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types:
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tread
apply (the tread) to a tire
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administer
perform (a church sacrament) ritually
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insufflate
breathe or blow onto as a ritual or sacramental act, especially so as to symbolize the action of the Holy Spirit
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type of:
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administer, allot, deal, deal out, dish out, dispense, distribute, dole, dole out, lot, mete, mete out, parcel out, shell out
administer or bestow, as in small portions
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give
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apply to a surface“She applied paint to the back of the house”
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synonyms:
put on
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types:
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dab, swab, swob
apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
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daub
apply to a surface
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gum
cover, fill, fix or smear with or as if with gum
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dress
put a dressing on
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cream
put on cream, as on one's face or body
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cold-cream
put cold cream on one's face
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putty
apply putty in order to fix or fill
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sponge on
apply with a sponge
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clap on, slam on, slap on
apply carelessly
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type of:
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cover
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
Pronunciation
US
/əˈplaɪ/
UK
/əˈplaɪ/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘apply'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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