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
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Recent Examples of applying
Many major airlines are also waiving change fees and penalties for passengers who are looking to switch their flights on their own, though some carriers are applying limits.
—
Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
Thompson immediately began applying for jobs, including DoorDash, grocery stores and substitute teaching.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Researchers in Canada are applying a new technique that can offer longer life to the Western red cedar, one of the country’s most iconic building materials.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Fincher and other staffers wore the polishes on this list for up to three weeks, applying them the same way and checking in at the one- and three-week marks to see how each held up.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
But now, the 37% top rate is set to continue indefinitely, applying to income above $626,350 for single filers and $751,600 for married couples filing jointly.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
New York City's Business Express Service Teams (BEST) directly assist small businesses in applying for permits and complying with regulations.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
By the end of last season, Ancelotti was getting frustrated with how some of his stars were losing focus and not applying their talents to the benefit of collective success.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
While individual well-being adds up to represent the happiness of a nation, Heshmati cautions against applying the study’s conclusions to your own health and risk of death from chronic disease.
—Lindsey Leake, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
Thompson immediately began applying for jobs, including DoorDash, grocery stores and substitute teaching.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Researchers in Canada are applying a new technique that can offer longer life to the Western red cedar, one of the country’s most iconic building materials.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Fincher and other staffers wore the polishes on this list for up to three weeks, applying them the same way and checking in at the one- and three-week marks to see how each held up.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
But now, the 37% top rate is set to continue indefinitely, applying to income above $626,350 for single filers and $751,600 for married couples filing jointly.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
New York City's Business Express Service Teams (BEST) directly assist small businesses in applying for permits and complying with regulations.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
By the end of last season, Ancelotti was getting frustrated with how some of his stars were losing focus and not applying their talents to the benefit of collective success.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
While individual well-being adds up to represent the happiness of a nation, Heshmati cautions against applying the study’s conclusions to your own health and risk of death from chronic disease.
—Lindsey Leake, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for applying
Verb
-
On expedition, the hunter who joined me on polar bear watch was relating a story from his grandfather who told him the telling sign of narwhal appearance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The song, which is the second track on the album, makes several references and nods to some of Taylor's famous life, while also seemingly relating them to Swift.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The city is devoting 12 inspectors to the effort — six teams of two.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
-
As a working mother, Meghan has been candid about running her business while also devoting plenty of time to her kiddos.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The idea is that these are machines capable of mining resources, replicating and spreading through the galaxy over millions of years.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin directly blamed Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for fostering hostility toward law enforcement and accused the media of spreading false narratives about immigration operations.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Make your vehicle visible to others both ahead of you and behind you by using your low-beam headlights since this means your taillights will also be on.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Guests can order the complimentary coffee in-bakery, through the mobile app, or online using code FREECOFFEE.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If rates rise unexpectedly, those low initial payments can balloon, exerting pressure on household budgets just as the broader economy absorbs the impact.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Ice plains can prompt fast retreat because as the glacier thins, the ice starts to rise up and water pushes underneath into its crevasses, exerting pressure and causing large slabs to break off — in a process called calving.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Federal judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Administration from enforcing the policy against Orr and six other individual plaintiffs in April.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
One of them was to have the right balance between rigidly enforcing rules, while also adapting on set to new issues that pop up.—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The homeowner, identified by police as 70-year-old Bonnie Miranda, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, pertaining to Delemo, police said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The scenario remains hypothetical, strongly dependent on both Stefanik winning the governorship and a determination of official misconduct or other grounds for removal pertaining to Mamdani’s actions as mayor.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Chinese leader then toured the vessel, including inspecting the mess hall and giving a trial press of the ship’s catapult button, according to CCTV.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Applying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/applying. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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