apply

Verb

apply (third-person singular simple present applies, present participle applying, simple past and past participle applied)

1. (transitive) To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
   • to apply cream to a rash
   • He said, and to the sword his throat applied.1697, John Dryden, Translation of Virgil's Aeneid
2. (transitive) To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case
   • to apply funds to the repayment of a debt

   Synonyms:

   appropriate, devote, use

3. (transitive) To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant.
   • We need to apply the skills we’ve learned to solve this problem.
   • Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied.1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
4. (transitive) To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently or with attention.
   • Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 23:12

   Synonyms:

   attach, incline

5. (reflexive) To work diligently and attentively.
   • My parents say I could do well in school if I would apply myself.
6. (reflexive, transitive, usually) To address oneself; to refer.
   • sacred vows […] applied to grisly Pluto1725, Homer, “Book X”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC
   • On applying to the assessors, I am surprised to learn that they cannot at once name a dozen in the town who own their farms free and clear.1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC
7. (intransitive) To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" or "at" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position).
   • I recently applied to the tavern for a job as a bartender.
   • Most of the colleges she applied to were ones she thought she had a good chance of getting into.
8. (intransitive) To pertain or be relevant.
   • That rule only applies to foreigners.

   Synonyms:

   extend

9. (obsolete) To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
   • She was no less skillful in applying his humours.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London...
10. (obsolete) To visit.
    • His armour was so clear,
      And he applied each place so fast, that like a lightning thrown
      Out of the shield of Jupiter, in every eye he shone.[1611?], Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer...