English verb: apply | |||
1. | apply (consumption) put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose | ||
Samples | 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. | ||
Synonyms | employ, use, utilise, utilize | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s something. Somebody ----s something to somebody. Somebody ----s something PP. Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | address, assign, avail, cannibalise, cannibalize, commit, consecrate, dedicate, devote, enjoy, exercise, exert, exploit, exploit, extend, fall back, give, implement, misapply, misuse, overdrive, overuse, play, play, ply, pull out all the stops, put, put to work, recur, recycle, reprocess, resort, reuse, share, strain, take, tap, waste, work, work | ||
Cause | apply, go for, hold | ||
Verb group | apply, practice, use | ||
2. | apply (stative) be pertinent or relevant or applicable | ||
Samples | The same laws apply to you!. This theory holds for all irrational numbers. The same rules go for everyone. | ||
Synonyms | go for, hold | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something is ----ing PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bear on, come to, concern, have-to doe with, pertain, refer, relate, touch, touch on | ||
Verb group | apply, lend oneself | ||
3. | apply (communication) ask (for something) | ||
Samples | He applied for a leave of absence. She applied for college. Apply for a job. | ||
Examples | They apply to move | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP. Somebody ----s to somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bespeak, call for, quest, request | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | put in, submit | ||
4. | apply (contact) apply to a surface | ||
Samples | She applied paint to the back of the house. Put on make-up!. | ||
Synonyms | put on | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cover | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | clap on, cold-cream, cream, dab, daub, dress, gum, putty, slam on, slap on, sponge on, swab, swob | ||
5. | apply (stative) be applicable to; as to an analysis | ||
Samples | This theory lends itself well to our new data. | ||
Synonyms | lend oneself | ||
Pattern of use | Something is ----ing PP | ||
Verb group | apply, go for, hold | ||
Antonyms | resist, defy, refuse | ||
6. | apply (possession) give or convey physically | ||
Samples | She gave him First Aid. I gave him a punch in the nose. | ||
Synonyms | give | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something to somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | administer, allot, deal, deal out, dish out, dispense, distribute, dole out, lot, mete out, parcel out, shell out | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | administer, tread | ||
Verb group | give | ||
7. | apply (social) avail oneself to | ||
Samples | Apply a principle. Practice a religion. Use care when going down the stairs. Use your common sense. Practice non-violent resistance. | ||
Synonyms | practice, use | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | follow | ||
Verb group | apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | ||
8. | apply (social) ensure observance of laws and rules | ||
Samples | Apply the rules to everyone. | ||
Synonyms | enforce, implement | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | compel, obligate, oblige | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | execute, execute, run | ||
Antonyms | exempt, relieve, free | ||
9. | apply (communication) refer (a word or name) to a person or thing | ||
Samples | He applied this racial slur to me!. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something to somebody. Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | denote, refer | ||
10. | apply (social) apply oneself to | ||
Samples | Please apply yourself to your homework. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | commit, consecrate, dedicate, devote, give | ||