1
as in relating
to have a relation or connection
does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in devoting
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 spreading
to put a layer of on a surface
apply the ointment liberally
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in using
to put into action or service
apply the laws of motion to this physics problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in exerting
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively
apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in enforcing
to carry out effectively
a police officer applying the law
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 applying
The paper also highlights the potential of digital twins — virtual patient replicas that allow doctors to simulate treatments before applying them in real life.
—
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
By applying Stoic principles, individuals can filter out the noise, focus on the controllable, and approach financial decisions with clarity rather than fear.
—Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
There’s nothing worse than applying a full face of makeup, only for your best mascara to end up in smears or black specks across your face.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
Lakin-Schultz, Mia Smith and Clarke anchored a well-rounded effort to keep applying the offensive pressure for the Marauders.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Rieger admitted that such complaints exist and are partially driven by believers failing to understand intersectionality and its purpose — applying it as a policy excuse when and where convenient.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Unless your stain’s instruction label specifies otherwise, applying several thin coats of stain rather than drenching the surface with stain will yield the best absorption and most even finish.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
Additional Strategies to Deter Squirrels After seeing the damage done by squirrels, gardeners will resort to anything from netting to applying commercial or DIY repellents.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
Hayden is also said to have assisted in applying pressure to Burrows' leg.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
By applying Stoic principles, individuals can filter out the noise, focus on the controllable, and approach financial decisions with clarity rather than fear.
—Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
There’s nothing worse than applying a full face of makeup, only for your best mascara to end up in smears or black specks across your face.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
Lakin-Schultz, Mia Smith and Clarke anchored a well-rounded effort to keep applying the offensive pressure for the Marauders.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Rieger admitted that such complaints exist and are partially driven by believers failing to understand intersectionality and its purpose — applying it as a policy excuse when and where convenient.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Unless your stain’s instruction label specifies otherwise, applying several thin coats of stain rather than drenching the surface with stain will yield the best absorption and most even finish.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
Additional Strategies to Deter Squirrels After seeing the damage done by squirrels, gardeners will resort to anything from netting to applying commercial or DIY repellents.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
Hayden is also said to have assisted in applying pressure to Burrows' leg.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for applying
Verb
-
Working Within The Trade And With Private Clients Enhancing and relating the company legacy is vitally important to Amenc, who started working for Golay Fils & Stahl in 2001.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
In a statement, a lawyer for Ortiz said his client’s guilty plea was highly tailored, relating only to his transactions with Pérez in the context of concert performances.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In a world of student loans and ever-increasing housing costs, the notion of devoting all of your time to obsessing over the meaning of nineteenth-century poetry does indeed feel like more of a fantasy than witchcraft or demons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
-
At some point the plan shifted from devoting one season to each of the five years, to having the first season cover one year and the second cover four.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The bristles are neither too floppy nor too stiff, neither too long nor too short, and are cut to the perfect rounded shape that’s just right for swirling pigment over the apples or spreading it along your cheekbones—without having to work too hard for a completely natural finish.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Still, Jones ran it to near perfection, spreading the ball around to Bourne, Jauan Jennings, Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges before hitting McCaffrey on a 7-yard score in the right side of the end zone.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Harvest Facial showcases Napa’s LIV + GRACE SKINCARE, using a soothing pumpkin enzyme mask to bring out autumn radiance.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Boiled down in a cauldron using traditional methods, the sulfate-free formula bubbles up into a lovely lather that washes hands without stripping them (the glycerin, as well as coconut, olive, and sweet almond oils, are to thank) and fills the room with its sophisticated, Provençal scents.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While delegation may be the superpower of some business leaders, Il Signor Armani was famous for exerting control over every detail large and small in the business.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This perception is shared by the private sector, which is exerting increasing pressure on the Brazilian government to grant Chinese firms greater access to the Brazilian market.—
HUSSEIN KALOUT,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each agency in charge of enforcing each law would then weigh potential harms, with enforcement to be modified based on how much of the application each agency approves.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Universities with tens of thousands of students might have trouble enforcing a campus smartphone-and-laptop ban, and might not have the capacity to require everyone to live on campus.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the pandemic is increasingly in the rear view mirror, many of the COVID era-policies pertaining to healthcare coverage have slowly fallen to the wayside.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Even if partners don’t agree on every single detail pertaining to religion or politics, most healthy couples nevertheless share a rudimentary worldview.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The club fees paid by growers go to marketing investments used for websites, TikToks, and ads, giving it wider appeal.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
12 Sep. 2025
-
As the overall matter heads towards its March 9, 2026 trial date start, Judge Liman will have the final word – for now – on bringing Swift on board and giving Baldoni and his Wayfarer co-founders more time for their own depositions.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Applying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/applying. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share