applies

verb

present tense third-person singular of apply
1
as in relates
to have a relation or connection does your rule about calling home apply to me as well?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in devotes
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spreads
to put a layer of on a surface apply the ointment liberally

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in uses
to put into action or service apply the laws of motion to this physics problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in exerts
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in enforces
to carry out effectively a police officer applying the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 applies For the collection, the mill applies a special cleaning process to cotton that removes 80 percent of impurities. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 The California Department of Education clarified that a waiver the district received only applies to the 80% staffing rule and does not extend the three-year spending deadline, meaning unexpended funds revert to the state. — Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The spokesperson noted, however, that the salary change only applies to the next term and does not affect the pay of the county's current executive, Kathy Klausmeier. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 This formula feels and applies like skincare, and looks like your skin but brighter and more radiant. — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2026 That 5% rate applies to the first $1,500 in eligible categories per quarter, then 1% cash back. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026 The approach applies manufacturing practices to research and development, allowing engineers and machinists to modify components and processes quickly as designs evolve. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 The event’s organizer argues the law applies to contests between people, not robots. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The requirement to pay the legal fees applies to the lawyers who pressed the lawsuit, not to Lake and Finchem. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for applies
  1. relates
  2. devotes
  3. spreads
  4. uses
  5. exerts
  6. enforces
  7. pertains
  8. gives
Verb
  • His interview with O’Donnell relates his story—a faulty parachute, a tough crash, a long bloody hike, and survival until he was rescued by an American plane—in a genuinely moving way.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Most of the funding gap relates specifically to weapons purchases, Zelensky said, and future financing for Ukraine could come in the form of deals for sharing technology and joint drone production.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of relates
Verb
  • Happily, Cooke devotes the bulk of his narrative to everyday Wikipedians and their collaboration’s emergent properties.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The film devotes a large portion of its second half focusing on Musk’s political activities with DOGE and beyond, though does not take a political position on, well, politicians, nor advocate for one candidate or cause over another.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of devotes
Verb
  • If these agents can book accurately, respect budgets and manage the small headaches, the behavior change spreads into other categories fast.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The Constitution spreads power among three branches and grants each an ability to check the others.
    — Dan Lipinski, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of spreads
Verb
  • The researchers focused on molten salt reactors, an advanced nuclear reactor design that uses molten salts in its operation.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • And uses the appropriate singular word for each when addressing just one.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of uses
Verb
  • With the veil thinning, our intuition exerts an immense pull on our emotional state.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Among the elements biology has to work with, oxygen exerts the strongest pull.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of exerts
Verb
  • From broader cultural debates, including race and equity, to how the league enforces its rules, there are certainly things the new WNBA commissioner will need to address next season and beyond.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Encode the process into your tools so the system enforces what the wiki describes.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of enforces
Verb
  • And now, the newest update about Hilton’s situation pertains to his finances.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The document, which largely pertains to the district’s use of school resource officers, states that Flock cameras will be on campus for at least two years and were installed at no cost to the school district.
    — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of pertains
Verb
  • The collagen-rich mixture gives the noodles their slippery texture, which Orlando complements with smoked chili, sunflower-seed miso, and fermented chili cream.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • BetMGM is offering new users a promo code of FOXNEWS, which gives them up to $1,500 in bonuses if their first bet loses.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of gives

Browse Nearby Words

appliers
applies
applies (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Applies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/applies. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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