apply
ap·ply[əˈplaɪ]verb, adjective
apply is spelled A-P-P-L-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables (ap·ply). It appears 65 times per million words in written English, the 1,636th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, apply means “To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in apply?
| Letters | 5: A-P-P-L-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: ap·ply |
| In writing | 65 times per million words; the 1,636th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is apply?
Apply appears 65 times per million words in written English, the 1,636th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce apply?
- /əˈplaɪ/
- US [əˈplaɪ]
- British [əˈplɑj]
As an adjective (“Alternative spelling of appley”): /ˈæp(ə)li/.
Apply has 2 syllables, split ap·ply in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-apply.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-apply.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with apply?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as apply.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: lappy.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of apply
- applies present, singular, he/she/it
- applying participle, present
- applied participle, past
- more apply comparative
- most apply superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does apply mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
to apply cream to a rash
- 2
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
- 3
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.
- 4
To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently or with attention.
- 5
To work diligently and attentively.
My parents say I could do well in school if I would apply myself.
- 6
To address oneself; to refer.
- 7
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.
- 8
To pertain or be relevant.
That rule only applies to foreigners.
adjective
- 1
Alternative spelling of appley.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Apply in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | appliquer , s'inscrire, postuler , valoir |
| German | auftragen, auflegen , anwenden, verwenden, benutzen |
| Portuguese | aplicar , candidatar-se , aplicar-se |
| Spanish | aplicar , presentarse para, optar a , aplicarse , dirigirse |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does apply come from?
Inherited from Middle English aplien, borrowed from Old French applier, from Latin applicō, from ad- + plicō (“fold; arrive”). See applicant, ply.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).