apply

To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)transitive

• to apply cream to a rash

To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular casetransitive

• to apply funds to the repayment of a debt

To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant.transitive

• We need to apply the skills we’ve learned to solve this problem.

To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently or with attention.transitive

• Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

To work diligently and attentively.reflexive

• My parents say I could do well in school if I would apply myself.

To address oneself; to refer.reflexivetransitiveusually

• sacred vows […] applied to grisly Pluto
• 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.

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).intransitive

• 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.

To pertain or be relevant.intransitive

• That rule only applies to foreigners.

To busy; to keep at work; to ply.obsolete

• She was no less skillful in applying his humours.

To visit.obsolete

• 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.

Alternative spelling of appley.alt-ofalternative