APPLY Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

apply

verb

ə-ˈplī

Definition of apply next

as in to relate

to have a relation or connection does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?

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Relevance

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to spread

to put a layer of on a surface apply the ointment liberally

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as in to use

to put into action or service apply the laws of motion to this physics problem

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as in to exert

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding

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as in to enforce

to carry out effectively a police officer applying the law

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of apply For a product with metal that amounts to less than 15% of its entire weight (like the cap on a perfume bottle) only country-specific tariffs will now apply, officials told reporters Thursday. —

ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 The same logic applies to investments. —

Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 The 100% tariff applies to brand-name drugs that still have a patent, not generics. —

Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 That allows scammers to present themselves as you when applying for credit or contacting financial institutions. —

Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply

Verb

Despite the two sharing the same last name, deputies did not note if the two missing women are related.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.

— Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026