gerund or present participle
Officially asking for something, especially a job, a place on a course, a visa, or a loan.
She is applying for a job at the local hospital.
He is applying for a scholarship to pay for college.
American English
How to pronounce applying
verb · adjectiveB1Very common word
uhpLAIihng
/əpˈlaɪ.ɪŋ/
3 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
Form of apply
Officially asking for something, especially a job, a place on a course, a visa, or a loan.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
gerund or present participle
Putting something on a surface or part of the body, or using force there.
The nurse is applying pressure to the wound.
Maya is applying sunscreen to her arms.
gerund or present participle
Using an idea, rule, method, or skill in a particular situation.
The team is applying the new method to the problem.
She is applying her training in a real emergency.
present participle used as an adjective
Being relevant to a person or situation.
The rules applying to remote workers are changing.
The laws applying to this case are difficult to understand.
Useful expressions
to officially ask to be considered for a job
I applied for a job at the hospital.
to be relevant to a person or situation
This rule applies to all employees.
to work with full attention and effort
She applied herself to her studies.
Related words & forms
The spelling changes: applies and applied, but applying. The y changes to i before -es and -ed; before -ing, keep y.