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
With Philadelphia applying pressure, Winn shattered Trea Turner’s bat to induce a 5-4-3 double play, recording the first two outs of the inning.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
If bitten by a rattlesnake, victims should stay calm, limit movement, call 911 and seek emergency medical attention, avoiding myths such as sucking out the venom or applying ice.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
This time was about applying an impeccable finish to a team worn down by a lot of hockey over the last three years.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 1 May 2026
In an ideal world — one where Miami hits on every draft pick during the past three years — Chop Robinson, Trey Moore and Max Llewellyn are coming off the edge of Jeff Hafley’s defense, applying pressure to quarterbacks.
—Omar Kelly
may 1, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
The trend is already applying pressure on news talent salaries, forcing networks to look for new ways to retain stars and attract new talent.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
While applying a fertilizer can benefit your plants, choosing a synthetic one can create a buildup of salts in the soil, says Phillips.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Sometimes that may mean applying for several opportunities at once, seeing what the results are, and then making an informed decision.
—Theo Wolf, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Girod noted that by applying for relief, Guerra Sandoval was giving the government all her personal information — even fingerprints.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
If bitten by a rattlesnake, victims should stay calm, limit movement, call 911 and seek emergency medical attention, avoiding myths such as sucking out the venom or applying ice.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
This time was about applying an impeccable finish to a team worn down by a lot of hockey over the last three years.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 1 May 2026
In an ideal world — one where Miami hits on every draft pick during the past three years — Chop Robinson, Trey Moore and Max Llewellyn are coming off the edge of Jeff Hafley’s defense, applying pressure to quarterbacks.
—Omar Kelly
may 1, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
The trend is already applying pressure on news talent salaries, forcing networks to look for new ways to retain stars and attract new talent.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
While applying a fertilizer can benefit your plants, choosing a synthetic one can create a buildup of salts in the soil, says Phillips.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Sometimes that may mean applying for several opportunities at once, seeing what the results are, and then making an informed decision.
—Theo Wolf, CNBC, 1 May 2026
Girod noted that by applying for relief, Guerra Sandoval was giving the government all her personal information — even fingerprints.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for applying
Verb
-
Some of them are old systems of knowledge, ways of relating the body to fertility, death, and survival.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Pisces new moon creates opportunities for fulfillment through relating.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By the 1970s, editors tried to distinguish their op-ed pages from others, but most adopted the common practice of devoting most, if not all, of their op-ed pages to outside voices.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Nothing will ever undo the original sin, and devoting your life to ruining someone else’s is a loss for both of you.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Borenstein celebrated the development on Instagram, posting a clip of his interview with the BBC about the update and thanking a Lufthansa rep for their help and followers for spreading the word.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
One idea the team floats is that zinc and manganese are limited resources, so scorpions can only reinforce the most critical parts of the stingers instead of spreading the metals across their entire exoskeleton.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
First, locate the radiant to the left of the waning moon using a handy smartphone stargazing app.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Paller tried a similar experiment in 2009, this time using sound.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the leader is lucid and exerting total control over the country that his office commands.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
1 May 2026
-
For years the owner, now 66, has watched tape, done his own player evaluations and sent observations and suggestions to DeCosta, mostly about players who might be available in later rounds — without exerting any actual decision-making power.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Second, hold the insurance industry accountable by rigorously enforcing state law and demanding transparency.—
Ben Allen,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
-
As of May 1, 2026, Nebraska is enforcing new federal work requirements eight months ahead of the national deadline, and what’s happening there right now is a preview of what 43 other states must implement by January 1, 2027.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Kolasinski has disputed this allegation, saying that his client was not a gang member and that, while Hernández had been accused of murder in El Salvador, he was acquitted of any charges pertaining to that case.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The gala’s funds support acquisitions of garments and accessories, but also the institute’s reference library, which holds over 800 periodicals and 1,500 designer files pertaining to the history of fashion and clothing, dating back to the sixteenth century.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Why then hesitate at giving people information about themselves that will actually change their life for the better?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Zamora supports giving middle and high school communities the option to have an officer on campus at least part-time.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Applying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/applying. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
