apply en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- [əˈpləj] (dialectal)
- [əˈplɑɪ] (Australia)
- /əˈplaɪ/
- (US) audio
- [əˈplɑj] (British, Southern, Standard)
- [əˈplaɪ] (Received-Pronunciation, US)
- [əˈplaɪ] (Canada)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Latin plicō Latin applicō Old French applierbor. Middle English aplien English apply Inherited from Middle English aplien, borrowed from Old French applier, from Latin applicō, from ad- + plicō (“fold; arrive”). See applicant, ply.
Meanings
-
(transitive) To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
He said, and to the sword his throat applied.
1697, John Dryden, Translation of Virgil's Aeneid:to apply cream to a rash
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(transitive) To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case
to apply funds to the repayment of a debt
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(transitive) To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant.
We need to apply the skills we’ve learned to solve this problem.
Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied.
1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
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(transitive) To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently or with attention.
Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 23:12:
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(reflexive) To work diligently and attentively.
My parents say I could do well in school if I would apply myself.
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(reflexive, transitive, usually) To address oneself; to refer.
On applying to the assessors, I am surprised to learn that they cannot at once name a dozen in the town who own their farms free and clear.
1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:sacred vows […] applied to grisly Pluto
1725, Homer, “Book X”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
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(intransitive) To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" or "at" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position).
I recently applied to the tavern for a job as a bartender.
Southern Pacific Communications Co. (SP) has applied to the FCC for approval of the first coast-to-coast digital data transmission service.
1974 August 7, Ronald A. Frank, “SP Seeks Approval for Coast-to-Coast Digital Net”, in Computerworld, page 15:Many of them don't know it, but almost a third of the inmates are eligible to apply for parole or work-release programs.
Most of the colleges she applied to were ones she thought she had a good chance of getting into.
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(intransitive) To pertain or be relevant.
That rule only applies to foreigners.
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(obsolete) To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
She was no less skillful in applying his humours.
a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
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(obsolete) To visit.
His armour was so clear, And he applied each place so fast, that like a lightning thrown Out of the shield of Jupiter, in every eye he shone.
[1611?], Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […], new edition, volume (please specify the book number), London: Charles Knight and Co., […], 1843, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| applying | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| applies | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| applied | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| applied | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Deriveds
mass-apply · unapply · misapply · overapply · appliable · application · applicate · coapply · reapply · preapply · applicant · appliance · applicatory · misappliance · nonapplying · underapply · apply oneself · disapply · applyingly · appliment · applicable · deapply · applier
Descendants
Synonyms
devote · incline · use · attach · extend · appropriate
Translations (187)
ru прикла́дывать (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · fi käyttää (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · nn gjelde (to be relevant to a specified individual) · fr appliquer (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · ru применя́ться (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · mi pani (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · cmn 用 (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · es aplicarse (to be relevant to a specified individual) · bg кандидатствам (to submit oneself as a candidate) · pl zgłosić się (to submit oneself as a candidate) · pl zastosowywać (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · sv tillämpa (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · tr geçerli olmak (to be relevant to a specified individual) · es convenir (to be relevant to a specified individual) · la applico (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · de benutzen (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ko 지원하다 (to submit oneself as a candidate) · hu alkalmaz (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · es aplicar a (to be relevant to a specified individual) · eo apliki (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fi soveltaa (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · hu használ (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fr valoir (to be relevant to a specified individual) · es postularse para (to submit oneself as a candidate) · ja 用いる (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ceb aplay (to submit oneself as a candidate) · mk при́мени (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · vi áp dụng (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ko 적용되다 (to be relevant to a specified individual) · fi uskoutua (to address oneself, refer) · bg прилагам (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fi herkistää (to work diligently and attentively) · fi asettaa (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · eo apliki (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · io aplikar (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · de auftragen (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · hu jelentkezik (to submit oneself as a candidate) · fi panna (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · ru подава́ть зая́вку (to submit oneself as a candidate) · ko 신청하다 (to submit oneself as a candidate) · pl zastosować (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · nl aanvragen (to submit oneself as a candidate) · de gelten (to be relevant to a specified individual) · uk стосува́тися (to be relevant to a specified individual) · mk спро́веде (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · uk звертатись (to submit oneself as a candidate) · it candidarsi (to submit oneself as a candidate) · hu fordul (to address oneself, refer) · de zutreffen (to be relevant to a specified individual) · uk застосува́ти (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fr s'inscrire (to submit oneself as a candidate) · it applicare (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · eo sin proponi por (to submit oneself as a candidate) · vi áp dụng (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · fi koskea (to be relevant to a specified individual) · swb utria ndziani (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · pt aplicar-se (to be relevant to a specified individual) · fa بکار بردن (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ja 申し込む (to submit oneself as a candidate) · no søke (to submit oneself as a candidate) · nl solliciteren (to submit oneself as a candidate) · ga cuir suas (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · sv tillämpa (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · vi ứng dụng (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · es optar a (to submit oneself as a candidate) · la applicō (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · bg употребявам (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · da bruge (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ru употребля́ть (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · nl gelden (to be relevant to a specified individual) · vec métar (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · hu pályázik (to submit oneself as a candidate) · es aplicar (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fi hakea (to submit oneself as a candidate) · io aplikar (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · sv gälla (to be relevant to a specified individual) · pt candidatar-se (to submit oneself as a candidate) · de anwenden (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · mi ngaki (to work diligently and attentively) · chr ᎢᎬᎾᏙᏗ (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · fi laittaa (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · uk ужи́ти (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · mk иско́ристи (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · cmn 應用 /应用 (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · es cuadrar (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ar طَبَّقَ (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · zdj utria ndziani (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · es aplicar a (to submit oneself as a candidate) · hu hasznosít (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · fr appliquer (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · mi whakamahi (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · mi whakahāngai (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · es proceder (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ko 쓰다 (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · uk використо́вувати (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fi käyttää (to work diligently and attentively) · nl aanleggen (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · ko 적용하다 (to address oneself, refer) · eo peti (to submit oneself as a candidate) · fi altistaa (to work diligently and attentively) · eo kandidatigi (to submit oneself as a candidate) · ru заявля́ть (to submit oneself as a candidate) · hu felhord (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · hu igyekszik (to work diligently and attentively) · eo alfiksi (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · pl dotyczyć (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ko 대다 (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · es dirigirse (to address oneself, refer) · pt aplicar (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · eo apliki (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · sv söka (to submit oneself as a candidate) · eo diligenti (to work diligently and attentively) · ru испо́льзовать (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · nl zich toeleggen op (to work diligently and attentively) · es valer (to be relevant to a specified individual) · hy կիրառել (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · cs přihlásit (to submit oneself as a candidate) · cs platit (to be relevant to a specified individual) · hu érvényes (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ru употреби́ть (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · uk вжива́ти (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · da gælde (to be relevant to a specified individual) · fi soveltua (to be relevant to a specified individual) · mi tono (to submit oneself as a candidate) · pt aplicar (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · ru обраща́ться (to submit oneself as a candidate) · de auflegen (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · fi kääntyä jonkun puoleen (to address oneself, refer) · nb anvende (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · tr başvurmak (to submit oneself as a candidate) · hu alkalmaz (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · lld aplicher (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · hu felhasznál (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ru подходи́ть (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ru примени́ть (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · it fare domanda (to submit oneself as a candidate) · ru применя́ть (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · es aplicar (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · sv applicera (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · hu hasznosít (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · de anwenden (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · sv ansöka (to submit oneself as a candidate) · mk упо́треби (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fa درخواست دادن (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ko 적용하다 (to make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant) · yue 申請 /申请 (to submit oneself as a candidate) · uk застосо́вувати (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · de sich anstrengen (to work diligently and attentively) · uk ужива́ти (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fi käyttää (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ru прилага́ть (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · da anvende (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · da benytte (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ar وَضَعَ (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · fr postuler (to submit oneself as a candidate) · cmn 申請 /申请 (to submit oneself as a candidate) · es solicitar (to submit oneself as a candidate) · eo rilati (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ta பொருந்து (to be relevant to a specified individual) · uk вжи́ти (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ru приложи́ть (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · fi levittää (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · hu felken (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · ru стара́ться (to work diligently and attentively) · sv anbringa (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · es presentarse para (to submit oneself as a candidate) · de verwenden (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · fi soveltaa (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ru применя́ться (to be relevant to a specified individual) · nl toepassen (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ta இடு (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · es aplicarse (to work diligently and attentively) · pt aplicar (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ko 기울이다 (to work diligently and attentively) · ru подава́ть заявле́ние (to submit oneself as a candidate) · mk при́мени (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · vi ứng cử (to submit oneself as a candidate) · uk ви́користати (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · hu vonatkozik (to be relevant to a specified individual) · fr appliquer (to be relevant to a specified individual) · nl aanbrengen (to lay or place; to put (one thing to another)) · pt aplicar-se (to work diligently and attentively) · nb gjelde (to be relevant to a specified individual) · ga cuir i bhfeidhm (to put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case — see also use, employ, utilize) · ko 쏟다 (to work diligently and attentively) · ru быть примени́мым (to be relevant to a specified individual) · de sich bewerben (um etwas) (to submit oneself as a candidate)