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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to use

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Those typically apply to programs 96+ mins in length with a budget of $30 million or more. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 Income taxes started out small too and only applied to a few people. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 For this story, Quinn added the Bioré serum to her daytime skincare routine, after cleansing and before applying a hyaluronic acid serum, moisturizer, and SPF. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 5 Aug. 2026 Natural treatments include pruning affected areas, spraying with water, applying rubbing alcohol, or using horticultural oils. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apply

Verb

Edwards, who worked a series of low-wage jobs before being diagnosed with autism at age 24, can relate.

— Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
The incident is believed to be mental health related, police said.

— Guy Davies, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of relate

Verb

With the accompanying string of tropical nights, state media has devoted unusual attention to the hottest weeks of the year, known locally as sambok, or the dog days of summer.

— Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Reddit has nearly 30 communities devoted specifically to Reta, including country-specific forums, groups for men and women and communities focused on results or trial data.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of devote

Verb

Clay regularly advises organizations on using existential psychology and behavioral science to improve their products, services, and workplace culture.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
The little device that could cause big trouble Federal investigators are looking into mini computer devices commonly used by water utilities and other organizations.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

But atmospheric drag intensified by solar activity exerted its forces on the observatory.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa, the big three of the three hundred–plus ethnicities that made up the national character, exerted their outsized influence in the shattering wave of military coups that preceded and followed the brutal civil war.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of exert

Verb

Open weights run locally with no vendor-side control surface, so no vendor can enforce a prohibition for you.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Chinese courts have also widened their reach over cross-border disputes, particularly in global patent litigation, by ordering parties not to pursue or enforce competing proceedings abroad.

— Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of enforce

Verb

In December, the Justice Department started releasing investigative records pertaining to Epstein and Maxwell in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

— Savannah Peters, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Both pertained to the same player in a way that had some believing there could be an easy out to fill out a Heat roster thinned by the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of pertain

Verb

The pact gives Saudi Arabia a powerful new layer of protection beyond its longstanding security partnership with the United States amid growing regional doubts over whether Washington can still be relied upon to protect its oil-rich Gulf allies.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
McIntosh’s Bryan Boone, the county’s building and zoning administrator, said just shy of 30 feet was the minimum given the flood risk.

— Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026