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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as in to use

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

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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 Broadly speaking, in the studies the Flinders researchers looked at, these dressings were applied to a range of slow-to-heal skin wounds on mice and rats, and their recovery was tracked over about one to three weeks. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026 Significant debt may also result in utility disconnection once winter shut-off protections no longer apply. — Sanya Carley, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 The policy does not apply to every contract now drawing attention. — Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026 The promotion used for this subscription will be applied at the first renewal. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply

Verb

Asea was first arrested in April on stalking and computer-related allegations, but prosecutors dropped those charges in May before bringing a computer-access charge in September, court records show.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Police and prosecutors said Joshua Kerry, 28, had been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between May 2024 and July this year, saying that these related in part to Farage.

— Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of relate

Verb

Rivera said reading Against All Hope, Cuban political prisoner Armando Valladares’ memoir, while attending FIU persuaded him to abandon plans to become a sportswriter and devote his life to political and human-rights causes.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Sessions, in a letter seeking leniency that was read into the record by his chief of staff, said his former congressional colleague devoted decades to public service, much of it focused on defending liberty and democracy.

— Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of devote

Verb

Swells from Isaias are affecting the western and northern portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and will spread northward toward the Gulf Coast on Friday.

— MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Food and drink With half a dozen restaurants spread around the complex, there’s no need to eat the same dish twice.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of spread

Verb

The setback sparked wide speculation that Sánchez would move forward the general election and use the momentum on the housing issue against his right-wing opponents.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Although the problem warrants a systemic fix, the best short-term solution is for hospitals to create more nuanced documentation tools, and for clinicians to exercise judgment when using them.

— Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

With broader crypto legislation stalling in Congress, regulators are exerting their existing powers to address individual parts of the market, said Jeff Ko, chief analyst at blockchain infrastructure service provider ViaBTC.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Within this region are two major neural pathways, known as the direct and indirect pathways, which appear to exert opposing influences over which actions are expressed.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of exert

Verb

Examples under laws enforced by the Labor Commissioner include filing certain wage complaints, exercising rights under the Labor Code and raising some workplace health or safety concerns.

— William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
My house is mine because a registry records my ownership and courts will enforce it.

— Joao Gomes, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of enforce

Verb

Anyone with any relevant information pertaining to the incident is asked to contact the Bloomfield Police Department.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
In the days leading to Ed Sheeran’s Atlanta concert, his second since the Big Controversy, questions about everything but his music prevailed over those pertaining to it.

— DeAsia Paige, AJC.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of pertain

Verb

Its winner, whether filmmaker or rights holder, will give the platform an exclusive license to show the film for a limited period.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Intense sound effects—such as the exceptionally long reverberation and echoes inside the Blue Demon tomb—gave a dramatic soundtrack to this intense, immersive experience.

— Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026