1
2
as in to devote
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to spread
to put a layer of on a surface
apply the ointment liberally
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to use
to put into action or service
apply the laws of motion to this physics problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in to enforce
to carry out effectively
a police officer applying the law
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of apply
Crime appeared to be dropping in 2024 ahead of the election, but Thao also faced backlash over poor relations with the police union and missing a deadline to apply for a grant that would have given the city millions to address retail theft.
—
Jared Gans, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
Achieve® Personal Loans Learn More Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
8.99% to 29.99%
Loan purpose
Debt consolidation, major purchase
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $50,000
Terms
24 and 60 months
Credit needed
620 or higher
Origination fee
1.99% to 6.99%
Early payoff penalty
None
Late fee
See terms
Terms apply.
—Brian Sloan,dan Avery, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
In other words, the same asset that feels untouchable when trying to borrow from a bank suddenly becomes fully visible when applying for student aid.
—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
After the announcement of the acquisition, China took its turn to apply the pressure.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apply
Jared Gans, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
Achieve® Personal Loans Learn More Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
8.99% to 29.99%
Loan purpose
Debt consolidation, major purchase
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $50,000
Terms
24 and 60 months
Credit needed
620 or higher
Origination fee
1.99% to 6.99%
Early payoff penalty
None
Late fee
See terms
Terms apply.
—Brian Sloan,dan Avery, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
In other words, the same asset that feels untouchable when trying to borrow from a bank suddenly becomes fully visible when applying for student aid.
—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
After the announcement of the acquisition, China took its turn to apply the pressure.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply
Verb
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Engineering strength depends on an interpretive framework that relates forces, the size of an object and their ratio − which represents mechanical stress.—
Zachary del Rosario,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
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Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The store also devoted four windows on Fifth Avenue to the collection, which will remain through April 30.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The organization devoted a team to research fan sections across college sports, European leagues and around the world, which eventually led to the concept for The Wall.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
As cartels have grown more adept at using social media, their influence in Mexican culture has spread.—
Antón Barba-Kay,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Controlling a fire means ensuring that the fire can't spread or cross the containment line.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Mangione handed arriving officers a fake New Jersey ID that was used at the New York City hostel days earlier and was subsequently arrested.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
-
In this sense, Mario has a permanent weapon to use, rather than needing to seek out power-ups for projectile offense.—
Mitch Wallace,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Education is another sector where government funding exerts significant influence, as the Trump Administration is now demonstrating.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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The zigzag outlines of his pendant lights, for instance, exert a kind of magnetic force like lightning.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Federal courts also rely on the U.S. Marshals Service to enforce federal orders.—
Faith E. Pinho,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Last week, a federal judge declined to further enforce his order instructing the White House to restore AP's access after agreeing with the government that its new policy does not necessarily discriminate against the news service.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The recall pertains to certain four-packs of Martinelli's 10-ounce round glass apple juice bottles sold across 28 states.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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Charges pertaining to the fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, were brought in January of this year.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Despite that, a growing number of companies do so voluntarily because the information gives them a leg up in the business world.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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In 2017 Francis gave a copy of his 2015 climate encyclical to President Trump, who visited him at the Vatican during his first term.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apply. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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