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
Under that ordinance, productions were required to apply in advance and pay a fee for a shooting permit.
—
Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The same dynamic will apply to robots.
—Grace Brown, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
More than 42,000 students applied for Texas’ new education savings account program on the first day of the application period, the Texas Comptroller’s Office announced Thursday.
—Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit argued that law has been applied inconsistently.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apply
Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The same dynamic will apply to robots.
—Grace Brown, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
More than 42,000 students applied for Texas’ new education savings account program on the first day of the application period, the Texas Comptroller’s Office announced Thursday.
—Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit argued that law has been applied inconsistently.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply
Verb
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Reconciliation, by contrast, allowed Republicans to pass fiscal and revenue-related farm provisions with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster and avoiding a stalemate that could have stretched on for years.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
31 Jan. 2026
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Usually episodes are five segments long—one, three, and five are dance/music related, and two and four are food, culture, nature, something interesting that's completely unique to the destination.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If Sanders continues to develop and the Browns can eventually end their quarterback carousel with a reliable passer who was selected in the fifth round, the team’s ongoing roster rebuild can devote key resources to other positions.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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As a teenager, a ruptured appendix led him to promise to devote himself to God.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Almost immediately after oversight of TikTok’s US operations changed, misinformation started to spread about changes to the app’s new terms of service, including those that applied to location sharing and data collection, Fiesler said.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Families who never qualified say their costs are rising, too, as insurers spread the increases across the entire market.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Now, the question of whether the US could again use force – or tactics like tariffs or sanctions – to strong-arm countries into choosing Washington’s interests over ties with China is a viable risk being evaluated in the region’s capitals.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Those who bought the checks would then attempt to fraudulently cash them, according to federal prosecutors, using a variety of methods.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Beijing is well known for turning to a playbook of economic countermeasures to exert pressure.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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Judges tasked with overseeing settlements may have no visibility into how much of an award is being siphoned off to third-party financiers, or how much pressure those financiers exert behind the scenes regarding potential settlements.—
Jaime Huff,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the legislature should act on the report’s recommendations with actions to strengthen reporting, enforce existing laws, prevent further abandonment of wells and ensure polluters pay for cleanup.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
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Now, these men enforced that suspension, not by law, but by fear.—
Larry Pino,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Notably, that case pertained to inland Lake Winnebago.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Furthermore, events following November 28, 2025, and/or pertaining to individual persons affiliated/associated with the institutions were not included in the metrics.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Strong demand for dollars gives the US more influence in borrowing money overseas at low rates and imposing sanctions on other nations.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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For now, keepers are focused on giving mother and calf time to bond while closely monitoring the newborn’s progress.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apply. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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