First Known Use: 1533
Dictionary
qualify
verb qual·i·fy \ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī\
: to give (someone) the necessary skill or knowledge to do a particular job or activity
: to have the necessary skill or knowledge to do a particular job or activity : to have the qualifications to do something
: to pass an exam or complete a course of study that is required in order to do something
qual·i·fiedqual·i·fy·ing
Full Definition of QUALIFY
transitive verb
1
2
: to characterize by naming an attribute : describe <cannot qualify it as … either glad or sorry — T. S. Eliot>
3
intransitive verb
1
: to be or become fit (as for an office) : meet the required standard
2
: to acquire legal or competent power or capacity <has just qualified as a lawyer>
3
a : to exhibit a required degree of ability in a preliminary contest <qualified for the finals> b : to shoot well enough to earn a marksmanship badge
See qualify defined for English-language learners
See qualify defined for kids
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Origin of QUALIFY
Middle French qualifier, from Medieval Latin qualificare, from Latin qualis
Related to QUALIFY
- Synonyms
- modify
- Antonyms
- disqualify
Rhymes with QUALIFY
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
QUALIFY Defined for Kids
qualify
verb qual·i·fy \ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī\
qual·i·fiedqual·i·fy·ing
Definition of QUALIFY for Kids
1
: to give the training, skill, or ability needed for a special purpose <His experience qualifies him for the job.>
2
: to have or show the skill or ability needed for a special purpose or event <They both qualify for the job.>
3
: to narrow down or make less general in meaning <I qualify my statement.> <Adverbs qualify verbs.>
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