Synonyms of applying

applying

verb

present participle of apply

1

as in relating

to have a relation or connection

does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relating
• pertaining
• referring
• concerning
• involving
• affecting
• connecting
• interesting
• appertaining
• having to do with
• touching
• bearing
• linking
• treating
• coupling
• dealing (with)
• associating
• interrelating
• tying in

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

• devoting
• giving
• committing
• addressing
• buckling
• bending
• working
• reapplying
• getting cracking
• getting with it
• spending
• turning one's hand
• getting one's act together
• setting (to)
• concerning
• involving
• settling (down)
• exerting
• readdressing
• engaging
• busying
• taxing
• stressing
• wearing out
• troubling
• plowing
• exhausting
• knuckling down
• carrying on
• plunging (in)
• putting out
• hustling
• grinding
• pitching in
• plugging (away)
• straining
• humping
• pegging (away)
• plodding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• playing
• idling
• fooling around
• trifling
• fiddling (around)
• messing around
• dawdling
• puttering (around)
• dallying
• pottering (around)
• monkeying (around)
• dillydallying

3

as in spreading

to put a layer of on a surface

apply the ointment liberally

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spreading
• smearing
• laying
• coating
• sheeting
• laying on
• dabbing
• layering
• plastering
• slathering
• daubing
• anointing
• overlaying
• covering
• bedaubing
• besmearing
• surfacing
• blanketing
• overlying
• carpeting
• mantling
• overspreading

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exposing
• stripping
• peeling
• uncovering
• baring

4

as in using

to put into action or service

apply the laws of motion to this physics problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

• using
• utilizing
• exploiting
• employing
• harnessing
• operating
• exercising
• drawing on
• making use of
• handling
• wielding
• manipulating
• bringing to bear
• working
• directing
• running
• recycling
• reusing
• cannibalizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• neglecting
• misusing
• misapplying

5

as in exerting

to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively

apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exerting
• using
• wielding
• employing
• plying
• utilizing
• exercising
• putting out
• misapplying
• misusing
• abusing

6

as in enforcing

to carry out effectively

a police officer applying the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enforcing
• implementing
• administering
• executing
• effecting
• fulfilling
• invoking
• enacting
• rendering
• citing
• bringing about
• effectuating
• prosecuting
• upholding
• observing
• honoring
• discharging
• promulgating
• legislating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• neglecting
• disregarding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of applying

The state should have to individually make cases to collect the money rather than automatically applying liens. — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Doing so would entail repairing cracks that admit water, maintaining the foundations of each section, applying a sealant to slow the weathering process, and keeping the encroachment of vegetation in check. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Firms are already applying AI across a broad range of work, with 40% of firms globally report using advanced AI for tax, accounting and audit research; 38% as a productivity tool or AI assistant; and 37% for bookkeeping automation. — Jason Marx, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Another act of retaliation, the lawsuit says, is that after applying for assistant chief of technical services, Dougan was rejected for allegedly failing to meet a new suppression-credential requirement. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

That experimentation stretched out over a steady, five-year dialogue with Grajales, who watched him test ideas without applying any pressure. — Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026

The judge blocked Epstein from applying for temporary licenses to appear in Florida court for a year. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

The next challenge will be scaling up this technology and applying it to larger pieces of wood as effectively. — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026

Not all banks allow applicants to apply with either and lenders may use these terms differently, so check carefully before applying. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026