Meaning of apply in English

apply

verb

/əˈplaɪ/ uk

/əˈplaɪ/

apply verb (REQUEST)

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B1 [ I ]

to request something, usually officially, especially in writing or by sending in a form:

apply for We've applied for a grant to get funding for the project.

apply to Please apply in writing to the address below.

By the time I saw the job advertised it was already too late to apply.

I've applied for a new job with the local newspaper.

[ + to infinitive ] Mandy applied to join the police.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to ask for something

ask forI asked the waiter for more water.
requestThe department has requested permission to spend money on new equipment.
apply forWe applied for a building permit to put an addition on the house.
demandPeople are demanding the right to return to their homes.
appeal forThe president appealed for calm.
call forA group of religious leaders are calling for an end to racism and injustice in the city.

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More examplesFewer examples

He had an inspiration - why not apply for some government money?
People who apply for housing benefit must be means-tested.
We could apply for a loan to buy a car.
She's applied for a job with an insurance company.
We've applied to a charitable organization for a grant for the project.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Making appeals & requests

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Applying for a job

apply verb (RELATE TO)

B2 [ I ]

(especially of rules or laws) to have a connection or be important:

apply to That part of the form is for UK citizens - it doesn't apply to you.

Those were old regulations - they don't apply any more.

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Please strike out whichever option does not apply to you.
The law will apply equally to men and women except in the case of maternity leave.
The discount applies only to children under the age of ten.
The legislation must be applied irrespective of someone's ethnic origins.
It is intended that these guidelines should be applied flexibly and pragmatically.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linking and relating

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apply verb (USE)

C1 [ T ]

to make use of something or use it for a practical purpose:

He wants a job in which he can apply his foreign languages.

The court heard how the driver had failed to apply his brakes in time.

If you apply pressure to a cut it's meant to stop the bleeding.

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If it continues to bleed, you may have to apply a tourniquet to the limb.
If he still refuses we could always apply a little pressure, as it were.
It's important to apply research in a practical way and not leave it on the shelf.
It is intended that these guidelines should be applied flexibly and pragmatically.
The taxi driver suddenly applied his brakes.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Using and misusing

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apply verb (PUT ON)

[ T ]

to spread or rub a substance such as cream or paint on a surface:

Apply the cream liberally to exposed areas every three hours and after swimming.

The paint should be applied thinly and evenly.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Covering and adding layers

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apply verb (WORK HARD)

apply yourself C2

If you apply yourself to something, you work hard at it, directing your abilities and efforts in a determined way so that you succeed:

You can solve any problem if you apply yourself.

If I had applied myself, I think I could have passed those exams.

If your players aren't applying themselves, you're never going to win anything.

People assumed he was simply not applying himself to his studies.

I'm sure the business will thrive if we apply ourselves and work together.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Effort and expending energy

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(Definition of apply from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

apply | Intermediate English

apply

verb

/əˈplɑɪ/

apply verb (REQUEST)

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[ I ]

to request something, usually officially, esp. by writing or by sending in a form:

to apply for a job/loan

She applied for admission to law school.

apply verb (HAVE TO DO WITH)

[ I ]

(esp. of rules or laws) to have to do with someone or something; relate:

The same rules apply to everybody.

apply verb (PUT ON)

[ T ]

to spread or rub cream, paint, etc., on a surface:

She applied the lotion gently to her sunburned arms.

apply verb (USE)

[ T ]

to make use of something for a particular purpose:

As a translator, he was able to apply his knowledge of foreign languages.

The driver failed to apply his brakes in time.

[ T ]

If you apply yourself to something, you work hard at it.

applicable

adjective us

/ˈæp·lɪ·kə·bəl, əˈplɪk·ə-/

This law is only applicable to nonprofit organizations.

(Definition of apply from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

apply | Business English

apply

verb

/əˈplaɪ/ us

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[ I ] HR, FINANCE

to officially ask for something such as a job, a place on a course, or a loan, usually by completing a special form or writing a letter:

Please apply before April 4th.

apply for sth I'm applying for a new job.

apply to do sth How do you apply to extend your visa?

apply to sb/sth (for sth) We've applied to a charitable organization for a grant for the project.

[ I ]

if something such as a rule, condition, or tax applies, it affects a particular person or situation:

Whether you are a shoe store or an internet company, consumer protection laws apply.

apply to sb/sth The tax would only apply to meals in restaurants.

[ T ]

to make use of something for a practical purpose or in a real situation:

apply knowledge/techniques/theory Applicants should be willing to learn and apply new techniques.

apply sth to sth He applied the knowledge he gained at university to his new job.

Compare

applicable

applicant

(Definition of apply from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of apply

apply

The same philosophy applies to the many forms of superconductivity.

From Phys.Org

He consumes advanced statistics from every direction, then applies them to coaching.

From The Seattle Times

This same principle applies today to certain investment firms.

From NPR

The researchers are going to apply this approach to the treatment of thrombosis.

From Phys.Org

When electric voltage is applied, they produce photons.

From Phys.Org

The 50-percent rule also applies for the remaining 81 delegates in the 27 congressional districts.

From The Atlantic

They were strong at the start, applying heavy pressure.

From MLive.com

So whether you're the parent or the student, that's going to apply to you.

From NPR

So you need people who are naturally interested in looking for solutions because not all the old solutions are going to apply.

From Fast Company

So how can you apply these findings in your own office?

From Business Insider

Instead, he can apply those resources to more important things like family and business.

From CNBC

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of apply?