apply
[əˈplaɪ]
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.81 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case
Transitive verb
verb
To work diligently and attentively.
verb
To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" or "at" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position).
Intransitive verb
Example Sentences
- "to apply cream to a rash"
- "He said, and to the sword his throat applied."
- "to apply funds to the repayment of a debt"
- "We need to apply the skills we’ve learned to solve this problem."
- "Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied."
- "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Latin plicō Latin applicō Old French applierbor. Middle English aplien English apply Inherited from Middle English aplien, borrowed from Old French applier, from Latin applicō, from ad- + plicō (“fold; arrive”). See applicant, ply.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: [əˈplaɪ]
- British English: [əˈplaɪ]
Usage
Inflected Forms
applies (present, singular)
applying (participle, present)
applied (participle, past)
applied (past)
more apply (comparative)
most apply (superlative)