What is apply? Pronunciation and usage in English

Let's break down how to use the word "apply" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a few different meanings! Here's a breakdown, categorized with examples:

1. To Submit Something (Most Common)

• Meaning: To formally send something (like an application, request, or proposal) for consideration.
• Phrases:
  • Apply for a job: "I'm going to apply for a job at Google."
  • Apply to a university: "She applied to Harvard University."
  • Apply for a loan: "We need to apply for a home loan."
  • Apply to a grant: "The organization applied for a grant to fund their research."
  • Apply to be...: "He applied to be a volunteer."
• Key structure: Apply + for + something

2. To Place Something (Like a Lotion or Paint)

• Meaning: To spread or put something on a surface.
• Examples:
  • Apply lotion to your skin: “Don’t forget to apply lotion after your shower.”
  • Apply paint to the wall: “I’m going to apply a fresh coat of paint to the living room.”
  • Apply makeup: "She carefully applies her makeup before going out."

3. To Stretch or Bend Something

• Meaning: To force something to take a particular shape.
• Examples:
  • Apply pressure to the bruise: "The doctor told me to apply pressure to the bruise to help it heal."
  • Apply force to the wrench: "He applied force to the wrench to loosen the bolt."

4. To Extend a Principle or Idea (More Formal)

• Meaning: To make something relevant or useful to a particular situation or context.
• Examples:
  • Apply the principles of physics to engineering: "Engineers need to apply the principles of physics to design bridges."
  • Apply this theory to your research findings: "You should apply this theory to your research findings to see if it holds up."

5. To Start or Begin (Less Common, but Important)

• Meaning: To begin an activity or process. Often used in phrases like “apply to,” “apply oneself,” or "apply your mind."
• Examples:
  • Apply yourself to the task: “You need to apply yourself if you want to succeed.”
  • Apply your mind to the problem: “Let’s apply our minds to finding a solution.”

Here’s a table summarizing the common uses:

Meaning	Example
Submit Application	Apply for a job
Spread Something	Apply lotion to your skin
Stretch/Bend	Apply pressure to a bruise
Extend/Relate	Apply the theory to your research
Start/Begin	Apply yourself to the task

Tips for Usage:

• "Apply for" is the most frequently used phrase.
• Pay attention to the context to understand which meaning is intended.
• Consider synonyms: Depending on the meaning, you might also use words like submit, send, put on, stretch, or start.

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Can you give me a sentence or situation where you'd like to use the word "apply" so I can help you tailor the best usage? For example, "I want to apply for a scholarship" or "I need to apply moisturizer to my face."