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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to use

to put into action or service apply the laws of motion to this physics problem

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 This week’s upcoming Santa Ana winds will provide one of the first major tests of whether Los Angeles has applied those painful lessons. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 It's estimated about 25% of the sunscreen people apply to their skin washes off while swimming or wading in the ocean. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 The seven-step facial includes a cleanse; a professional biostimulating step applied to the skin with no needles; lifting; nano-infusion with a no-puncture tip; a cold biocellulose mask; LED, and finishing serums and SPF. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 After working as an intern and on the football staff at KU, Potts was asked to apply for an open role with the Royals. — Pj Green october 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply

Verb

His interview with O’Donnell relates his story—a faulty parachute, a tough crash, a long bloody hike, and survival until he was rescued by an American plane—in a genuinely moving way.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
The high amount of overtime at the mental health department is related mainly to nurses working at the state’s mental health hospitals, Whiting and Connecticut Valley Hospital, which are both in Middletown.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of relate

Verb

The power of people All of this knowledge has accumulated because people value birds and have devoted enormous time and effort to understanding them.

— Amy L. Scarpignato, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Beyond his commercial success, Appignani devoted his later years to civic engagement, philanthropy and promoting humanistic values.

— Sergio R. Bustos, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of devote

Verb

Thatâ€™s $280 billion from firms like Singaporeâ€™s Bitdeer, Australiaâ€™s Graphinex, Belgiumâ€™s UCB, South Koreaâ€™s Korea Zinc, and Japanâ€™s Isuzu Motors, spread across more than 345 projects.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The company’s new Aura software measures hive health, pollen counts, and pesticide prevalence across its 2,200 hives spread around more than 70 cities.

— Drew Robb, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of spread

Verb

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates US data centers used about 17 billion gallons of water for cooling in 2023, and that could double or even quadruple by 2028.

— Adhum Carter Wolde-Lule, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
However, the available demonstration does not specify the training setup, how responsibilities the divided between the learning methods, or the precise control architecture used during execution.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

Hamas could restrict the system to exert pressure internally, the official said, while Netanyahu could restrict it to pressure Hamas.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Eventually, Alonso will want his side to exert control over opponents rather than embrace this Russian-roulette brand of football.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of exert

Verb

The judge also found the city liable because Harris had final authority to enforce the public-participation policy during council meetings.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
SpaceX agreed to testify earlier this week after the council threatened to have its subpoena enforced by a judge.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of enforce

Verb

As the noise around college football continues to get louder pertaining to what is transpiring at Texas right now for Steve Sarkisian.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
The charges pertain to allegations made by six women, spanning a decade from 1999 to 2009.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of pertain

Verb

Most questions were friendly and business-centric, but Marshall also gave his opinion on several polarizing issues, including federal immigration enforcement, tariffs and the war in Iran.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Four turboprop engines power the aircraft, giving it the performance needed for demanding military transport operations.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026