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
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Recent Examples of apply
The new shipping process does not apply to private customers.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
This policy, which went into effect in 2012, applied to RAs and housing employees notified that night.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
When is the deadline to apply for Poppi settlement?
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apply
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
This policy, which went into effect in 2012, applied to RAs and housing employees notified that night.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2025
When is the deadline to apply for Poppi settlement?
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply
Verb
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Petrino, the man responsible for the changes, could relate.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Sep. 2025
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Internet users can’t get enough of Mason’s refusal to engage with the other pups at day care, as many fellow introverts could relate.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Late in The Gales of November, Bacon — who’s written books on leadership and college football, among other topics — devotes two chapters to Lightfoot’s epic ballad.—
John U. Bacon,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
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Michaels is devoting about 25% of space in its stores to this new venture while also launching a party concept.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement That has helped save tens of millions of lives, contributed to a reduction by half of mortality rates of children under five, put developing countries on a better economic trajectory, and substantially reduced the chances that infectious diseases emerge and spread.—
Dr. Seth Berkley,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Opera has used the Neon name before for a concept browser back in 2017.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
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Others, however, believed that Johnson used his access as leverage in dealing with Bukele.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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German defense minister Boris Pistorius said Thursday that Russian satellites were shadowing German satellites, raising alarm at the prospect that Moscow is looking to space to exert its military force.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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It was filed as the White House has taken steps to exert influence in unprecedented ways on the department, blurring the line between law and politics at an agency where independence in prosecutorial decision-making is a foundational principle.—
Eric Tucker,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Department of Transportation (DOT) pledged to enforce existing laws.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
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With the envelope rule enforced, the match was scratched and the scoreboard adjusted to 12–5.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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New laws covering topics including new protections for lottery winners and a change to the state’s laws pertaining cousins marrying are set to take effect in Connecticut starting on October 1, 2025.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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The statistics in this article only pertain to houses listed for sale in Jefferson County, not houses that were sold.—
USA TODAY Network,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Winged munition autonomously detects moving targets Raytheon also highlighted that the StormBreaker smart weapon gives operators an upper hand in combat by hitting moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
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Officials did not give any details on the man’s medical condition.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apply. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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