First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
apply
verb ap·ply \ə-ˈplī\
: to ask formally for something (such as a job, admission to a school, a loan, etc.) usually in writing
: to put or spread (something) on a surface, a part of the body, etc.
: to cause (force, pressure, etc.) to have an effect or to be felt
ap·pliedap·ply·ing
Full Definition of APPLY
transitive verb
1
a : to put to use especially for some practical purpose <applies pressure to get what he wants> b : to bring into action <apply the brakes> c : to lay or spread on <apply varnish> d : to put into operation or effect <apply a law>
2
: to employ diligently or with close attention <should apply yourself to your work>
intransitive verb
1
: to have relevance or a valid connection <this rule applies to freshmen only>
2
: to make an appeal or request especially in the form of a written application <apply for a job>
— ap·pli·er \-ˈplī(-ə)r\ noun
See apply defined for English-language learners
See apply defined for kids
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Origin of APPLY
Middle English applien, from Anglo-French aplier, from Latin applicare, from ad- + plicare to fold — more at ply
Related to APPLY
Rhymes with APPLY
aby, agley, air-dry, Alai, ally, Altai, anti, assai, awry, aye-aye, Bacchae, Baha'i, banzai, barfly, bee fly, Belgae, belie, bigeye, big lie, black eye, blackfly, black tie, blow-dry, blowby, blowfly, blue-sky, Bo Hai, bone-dry, bonsai, botfly, Brunei, buckeye, bugeye, bye-bye, canaille, catchfly, cat's-eye, Chennai, chess pie, Chiang Mai, cockeye, cockshy, come by, comply, cow pie, crane fly, cross-eye, deadeye, decry, deep-fry, deep-sky, deerfly, defy, Delphi, deny, descry, do by, dong quai, drip-dry, drop by, dry eye, dry fly, elhi, Eli, espy, face fly, firefly, fish-eye, flesh fly, flyby, fly high, forby, freeze-dry, frogeye, fruit fly, gadfly, gallfly, get by, GI, glass eye, go by, good-bye, greenfly, grisaille, gun-shy, Haggai, Hawkeye, heel fly, hereby, hi-fi, hog-tie, horn fly, horsefly, housefly, imply, jai alai, July, Karzai, Kasai, knee-high, lanai, Lanai, lay-by, lay by, Lehigh, let fly, Levi, lie by, magpie, mai tai, mao-tai, Masai, mayfly, medfly, mind's eye, Moirai, mooneye, Mumbai, my eye, nearby, necktie, nilgai, nisi, outbye, outcry, oxeye, pad thai, Panay, panfry, Parcae, piece-dye, pigsty, pinkeye, Po Hai, pop eye, pop fly, potpie, put by, Qinghai, quasi, rabbi, red-eye, rely, reply, rib eye, ride high, rocaille, rough-dry, run dry, Sakai, sand fly, sci-fi, screw eye, semi, Sendai, serai, set by, shanghai, Shanghai, sheep's eye, shoofly, shut-eye, Sinai, sky-high, small-fry, stand by, standby, stir-fry, string tie, supply, swear by, terai, test-fly, thereby, tie-dye, titi, tongue-tie, Transkei, twist tie, two-ply, untie, vat dye, Versailles, walleye, well-nigh, whereby, whitefly, wild rye, wise guy
APPLY Defined for Kids
apply
verb ap·ply \ə-ˈplī\
ap·pliedap·ply·ing
Definition of APPLY for Kids
1
: to request especially in writing <apply for a job>
2
: to lay or spread on <apply a coat of paint>
3
: to place in contact <apply heat>
4
: to have relation or a connection <This law applies to everyone.>
5
: to put to use <I applied my knowledge.>
6
: to give full attention <I applied myself to my work.>
Medical Dictionary
apply
transitive verb ap·ply \ə-ˈplī\
ap·pliedap·ply·ing
Medical Definition of APPLY
: to lay or spread on <apply antiseptic to a cut>
Learn More About APPLY
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