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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of apply
The highest rating a Star Wars film ever got was PG-13, the rating consistently applied to films in the franchise since 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
—
EW.com, 26 May 2025
Some eighteen hundred years later, Nietzsche had his migraines treated with leeches applied to his ears.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
His client in the case, Harry Wiley, a West Virginia coal miner, was diagnosed with an early stage of black lung and applied to NIOSH for a transfer to an environment with less dust exposure but never received a response.
—Taylor Sisk, CNN Money, 26 May 2025
The $30 cost includes all fees, but not taxes as applicable according to city, state and venue and applies to amphitheater shows throughout the U.S. and Canada.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for apply
EW.com, 26 May 2025
Some eighteen hundred years later, Nietzsche had his migraines treated with leeches applied to his ears.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
His client in the case, Harry Wiley, a West Virginia coal miner, was diagnosed with an early stage of black lung and applied to NIOSH for a transfer to an environment with less dust exposure but never received a response.
—Taylor Sisk, CNN Money, 26 May 2025
The $30 cost includes all fees, but not taxes as applicable according to city, state and venue and applies to amphitheater shows throughout the U.S. and Canada.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for apply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply
Verb
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Investigators suspected the two killings were related but ran out of leads and the cases went cold.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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Jennifer Ouellette Senior Writer 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.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Islam recommends devoting no more than 5% of your portfolio to thematic ETFs, for example.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
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Regardless of high prices, Bulgari’s Creative Director Lucia Silvestri has devoted herself to making the pieces more wearable, articulated, and comfortable on the body.—
Daisy Shaw-Ellis,
Vogue,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Measles was fully eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, according to the CDC, meaning the virus was not spreading within the country and new cases only came from people who contracted measles abroad and returned to the U.S.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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Stages 3 and 4, when the tumor has spread beyond the borders of the prostate, are considered more advanced and high risk.—
Luisel Ricks-Santi,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Berry was 14 when a classmate used an AI app to attach a nude body to an Instagram photo of her face, before circulating it on social media.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Educators will have canoes and kayaks, paddles and life jackets to use and will offer instruction.—
Flip Putthoff,
Arkansas Online,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Councilmember Yusef Salaam, who represents the area and exerts tremendous influence over whether or not One45 will pass in the Council, expressed myriad concerns about the project.—
Téa Kvetenadze,
New York Daily News,
20 May 2025
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Each individual gene involved in a polygenic trait may exert only a small influence on that trait.—
Kermit Pattison,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Verb
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However, after the Supreme Court ruled last week that the Trump administration can enforce the ban amid the pending lawsuits, Cmdr.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
19 May 2025
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The campaign will include the use of AI social media monitoring tools that will help the league enforce a revised code of conduct.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2025
Verb
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But those costs wouldn’t pertain to certain eligible students.—
Juan Ortega,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2025
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One of them pertained to McIlroy and his success at this track.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Verb
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But there are few substitutes for availability, and no player has given more to Spurs this season than Porro.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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This will give you adequate time to find the perfect viewing location and watch the sun glide between the skyscrapers.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside Online,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apply. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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