Dictionary entry details
• APPLY (verb)
Meaning:
Put into service; make work or employ (something) for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Synonyms:
utilize; utilise; use; employ; apply
Context examples:
use your head! / we only use Spanish at home / I can't use this tool / Apply a magnetic field here / This thinking was applied to many projects / How do you utilize this tool? / I apply this rule to get good results / use the plastic bags to store the food / He doesn't know how to use a computer
Cause:
apply; go for; hold (be pertinent or relevant or applicable)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apply"):
exploit; work (use or manipulate to one's advantage)
exploit; tap (draw from; make good use of)
extend; strain (use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity)
exercise; exert (put to use)
enjoy (have benefit from)
take (travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route)
share (use jointly or in common)
put to work; work (cause to work)
implement (apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design)
fall back; recur; resort (have recourse to)
recycle; reprocess; reuse (use again after processing)
cannibalise; cannibalize (use parts of something to repair something else)
overdrive; overuse (make use of too often or too extensively)
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
play (employ in a game or in a specific position)
play (use or move)
pull out all the stops (use all resources available)
assign; put (attribute or give)
ply (use diligently)
address (address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question)
waste (use inefficiently or inappropriately)
misapply; misuse (apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly)
avail (use to one's advantage)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Meaning:
Be pertinent or relevant or applicable
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
go for; apply; hold
Context examples:
The same laws apply to you! / This theory holds for all irrational numbers / The same rules go for everyone
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
bear on; come to; concern; pertain; refer; relate; touch; touch on (have to do with or be relevant to)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Ask (for something)
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context examples:
He applied for a leave of absence / She applied for college / apply for a job
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
bespeak; call for; quest; request (express the need or desire for; ask for)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apply"):
put in; submit (make an application as for a job or funding)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s to somebody
Sentence example:
They apply to move
Meaning:
Apply to a surface
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
apply; put on
Context examples:
She applied paint to the back of the house / Put on make-up!
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apply"):
clap on; slam on; slap on (apply carelessly)
sponge on (apply with a sponge)
putty (apply putty in order to fix or fill)
cold-cream (put cold cream on one's face)
cream (put on cream, as on one's face or body)
dress (put a dressing on)
gum (cover, fill, fix or smear with or as if with gum)
daub (apply to a surface)
dab; swab; swob (apply (usually a liquid) to a surface)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something PP
Meaning:
Be applicable to; as to an analysis
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
lend oneself; apply
Context example:
This theory lends itself well to our new data
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Give or convey physically
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
apply; give
Context examples:
She gave him First Aid / I gave him a punch in the nose
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
administer; allot; deal; deal out; dish out; dispense; distribute; dole out; lot; mete out; parcel out; shell out (administer or bestow, as in small portions)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apply"):
tread (apply (the tread) to a tire)
administer (administer ritually; of church sacraments)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Meaning:
Avail oneself to
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
practice; use; apply
Context examples:
apply a principle / practice a religion / use care when going down the stairs / use your common sense / practice non-violent resistance
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apply"):
follow (adhere to or practice)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Ensure observance of laws and rules
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
enforce; implement; apply
Context example:
Apply the rules to everyone
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
compel; obligate; oblige (force or compel somebody to do something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apply"):
execute; run (carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine)
execute (carry out the legalities of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Refer (a word or name) to a person or thing
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
He applied this racial slur to me!
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
denote; refer (have as a meaning)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Meaning:
Apply oneself to
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
Please apply yourself to your homework
Hypernyms (to "apply" is one way to...):
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
