apply

apply is a 5-letter English word with 22 senses as transitive verb, intransitive verb, and verb in the JumbleFix dictionary. One common meaning is: To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another); -- with to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply medicaments to a diseased part of the body. Face value is 12 in Scrabble and 14 in Words With Friends. Use the entries below when you need a playable sense, a nearby word, or another arrangement of the same letters.

5 letters · Scrabble 12 · Words With Friends 14 · 22 senses

Definitions

1. transitive verb. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another); -- with to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply medicaments to a diseased part of the body.
2. transitive verb. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case; to appropriate; to devote; as, to apply money to the payment of a debt.
3. transitive verb. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relative; as, to apply the testimony to the case; to apply an epithet to a person.
4. transitive verb. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline.
5. transitive verb. To direct or address.
6. transitive verb. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.
7. transitive verb. To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
8. transitive verb. To visit.
9. intransitive verb. To suit; to agree; to have some connection, agreement, or analogy; as, this argument applies well to the case.
10. intransitive verb. To make request; to have recourse with a view to gain something; to make application. (to); to solicit; as, to apply to a friend for information.
11. intransitive verb. To ply; to move.
12. intransitive verb. To apply or address one's self; to give application; to attend closely (to).
13. verb. ask (for something)

    "He applied for a leave of absence"

    "She applied for college"

14. verb. refer (a word or name) to a person or thing

    "He applied this racial slur to me!"

15. verb. put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

    "use your head!"

    "we only use Spanish at home"

    Synonyms: employ, use, utilise, utilize

16. verb. apply to a surface

    "She applied paint to the back of the house"

    "Put on make-up!"

17. verb. give or convey physically

    "She gave him First Aid"

    "I gave him a punch in the nose"

    Synonyms: give

18. verb. ensure observance of laws and rules

    "Apply the rules to everyone"

    Synonyms: enforce, implement

19. verb. avail oneself to

    "apply a principle"

    "practice a religion"

    Synonyms: practice, use

20. verb. apply oneself to

    "Please apply yourself to your homework"

21. verb. be pertinent or relevant or applicable

    "The same laws apply to you!"

    "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"

    Synonyms: hold

22. verb. be applicable to; as to an analysis

    "This theory lends itself well to our new data"

Synonyms

employ, use, utilise, utilize, give, enforce, implement, practice, hold

Common word forms

applied, applier, applies, appliest, applying, applyment

Words from these letters

If you are holding these tiles, the unscrambler for APPLY lists every valid word you can make from the same letters, including shorter plays.