APPLY Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

apply

verb

ə-ˈplī

Definition of apply

as in to relate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 These same preventive practices also apply to produce grown in the home garden. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026 Alpine took that Formula 1 discipline and applied it to a road-legal electric sports car. — New Atlas, 15 July 2026 The message applies both in the locker room and on the field. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 There are some broad-brush moments in the dialogue, yes, but even these are applied with a muscular flourish. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for apply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply

Verb

Eight are women who had taken maternity or pregnancy-related leave, four are men who had taken parental leave and one is a woman who had taken leave to care for a family member and later bereavement leave.

— Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 15 July 2026
On Monday, Bonta’s office filed a motion to relate the case to a lawsuit filed in April by Paramount+ subscribers who alleged that the merger would harm competition and drive up prices.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 July 2026

Definition of relate

Verb

The real Nafisi is a beloved literary figure, a professor who has devoted the bulk of her life to evangelizing about the transcendence of Western literature in places where its liberal, humanist messages are much needed.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
The commission is the only federal agency devoted solely to election administration.

— Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of devote

Verb

The fires that devastated Collins are part of a wider wildfire emergency unfolding across Canada, where 889 active fires were spreading as of Thursday night, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Tucked away behind gates on a parcel spanning nearly nine acres within an exclusive enclave near Del Mar Country Club, the Amor Estate offers 30,000 square feet of living space spread across a seven-bedroom main home and a two-bedroom guesthouse.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 17 July 2026

Definition of spread

Verb

This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 15, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
The company says its CoSMo fusion systems are based on the magnetic mirror concept, which uses magnetic fields to confine high-temperature plasma.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026

Definition of use

Verb

Beijing has exerted greater institutional control in Tibet since Xi Jinping became the country's president in 2012.

— Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Avard grew concerned that the Chinese bottled water company Nongfu Spring, which purchased a more than 375,000 square-foot industrial property in Nashua in 2025, would begin to exert influence over the local political process.

— Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026

Definition of exert

Verb

Bonta’s office did not respond to a request for comment on whether DHS ownership of the facilities could limit the state’s ability to enforce its oversight laws, including AB 103.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Turks and Caicos has strict firearms and ammunition laws that are strongly enforced at airports.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Definition of enforce

Verb

On Tuesday, July 14, Teresa Giudice‘s 20-year-old daughter virtually appeared in court for a hearing pertaining to her May 14 arrest alongside her attorney Alan Kraminsky.

— Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
While Wise’s veterinary license remains active, McMahan said that anything pertaining to that license would have to come from the Attorney General’s Office, which would bring findings to the veterinary board.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

Definition of pertain

Verb

Newcastle cannot reach the top as quickly as initially hoped post-takeover, given the financial constraints.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
And when given the opportunity, Andrew, 17, enjoys learning about computers, their functioning and how to troubleshoot technical issues.

— The Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026