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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to spread
to put a layer of on a surface
apply the ointment liberally
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4
as in to use
to put into action or service
apply the laws of motion to this physics problem
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5
6
as in to enforce
to carry out effectively
a police officer applying the law
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of apply
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Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 Nov. 2024
The same applies to other treatments and medical devices.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
In Idaho, a candidate seeking a recount must apply with the attorney general.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Trump has already shown a willingness to go after media companies by pressuring regulatory agencies to apply more scrutiny to certain mergers and acquisitions.
—Sara Fischer, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apply 
Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 Nov. 2024
The same applies to other treatments and medical devices.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
In Idaho, a candidate seeking a recount must apply with the attorney general.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Trump has already shown a willingness to go after media companies by pressuring regulatory agencies to apply more scrutiny to certain mergers and acquisitions.
—Sara Fischer, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply
Verb
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The pair was introduced by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, who affectionately referred to Rowland as one of her bonus daughters, though the two are not biologically related.Mikelle Street, WWD, 26 Oct. 2024
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Though not inherently related, some installments have had connections to previous Horror Story seasons, including the introduction of Rubber Woman to Murder House and the origin story of Coven‘s Spalding.Andy Swift, TVLine, 13 Sep. 2024
Verb
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After spending the rest of 2017 touring the world behind Joanne (including a headlining slot at Coachella, swooping in to replace a pregnant Beyoncé atop the bill), Gaga devoted 2018 to her first Hollywood starring role, in Bradley Cooper’s remake of A Star is Born.Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
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Featuring the longtime band lineup of singer Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Janick Gers and Adrian Smith, Iron Maiden devoted their two-hour set consisting mostly of music from the 2021 record Senjutsu and the 1986 album Somewhere in Time.David Chiu, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Fix the Hide Before Tweaking the Spread If things aren’t going as planned and ducks aren’t finishing, duck hunters tend to want to mess with the decoy spread.Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
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Dozens of firefighters were battling the brush fire just days after fires in wooded areas of Brooklyn, the Bronx and New Jersey spread smoke across New York City.Evan Bush, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The groups’ American Electorate Voter Poll — using a larger Latino sample and additional techniques for polling Hispanics — flipped that outcome, with Harris winning 56% of Latino men to Trump’s 43%.Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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One bird tutor was then released into each group, so that the flock mates could learn to use one solution over another.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Dr Lyn Goldsworthy, from the University of Tasmania and a long-time observer at CCAMLR meetings, told The Guardian that China was seeking to exert its influence in the region for geopolitical reasons, with an eye on future exploitation.The Week UK, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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Indeed, Congress had already exerted its authority in the Electoral Count Act in 1887, which institutionalized standards to reduce the extent of reliance on democratic norms.Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The security agents who enforce hijab laws, informally called morality police, have recently started easing public confrontations with women over the headscarves, following the election of reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian who campaigned on opposing these police patrols.Hannah Peart, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces a number of statutes protecting the right to vote.Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Lawsuits pertaining to voter registration and other matters hint at arguments that could emerge in post-election legal cases.The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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The case pertained only to Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes are key to next week’s contest.Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The abuse victims’ attorneys, however, suggested that not funding the trust immediately would short-change people who had already been victimized by the church, given how the value of that trust could erode with time and inflation.Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Two days after the nation’s voters gave Donald Trump another term as president, Gov. Gavin Newsom staged a publicity stunt to position California — and presumably himself — as the epicenter of resistance.Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Apply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apply. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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