Applies is the third-person singular present tense and the plural noun form of apply. In most contexts it means makes use of something or is relevant to a situation, or it can indicate that a person or thing submits or uses an application. The word often appears in formal writing and everyday speech, linking to verbs like apply, applying, or application.
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"She applies sunscreen before going outside."
"The team applies the new strategy to improve performance."
"This clause applies to contractors and vendors."
"He applies for scholarships every year."
Applies derives from the verb apply, which traces back to the Latin applicare, meaning to fasten or join to. The Latin term is formed from ad- meaning toward and plicare meaning to fold or intertwine; over time, it broadened to mean bringing something to bear on a matter. Old French borrowed the form and later Middle English adapted it, with -ies as a typical third-person singular/ plural noun ending. The noun application evolved in parallel, but the verb form took on modern present-tense endings in the transition to Early Modern English. The 15th–16th centuries mark the widespread emergence of applies in legal, administrative, and everyday contexts as “to put to use” and later more specifically “to make a formal request or submission.” In contemporary English, applies often shows up in business, legal, and educational discourse, where the sense of putting effort, resources, or rules toward a goal or document is central.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "applies" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "applies" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "applies"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say a-PLIES with the primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈplaɪzɪz/ in connected speech. Start with a neutral schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, then a clear /plaɪ/ diphthong as in 'fly,' and finish with an /zɪz/ cluster where the z is voiced. In careful speech you’ll hear a light extra vowel length before the final /z/. Example: “She a-PLIES this method to datasets.”
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress, e.g., saying /əˈplaɪz/ without the final /əz/—the word often ends with /ɪz/ or /z/ in many forms. 2) Slurring the /ɪz/ to a quick /z/ or dropping the final vowel, which can muddle the plural noun vs. verb form. 3) Pronouncing /p/ as aspirated too strongly in rapid speech, making it sound tense. Correction: keep the /p/ short, then glide into /l/ and the long /aɪ/ before the /z/; practice saying ‘a-plies’ slowly, then add the final /z/ softly.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality can vary: US: /əˈplaɪzɪz/ with a slightly more centralized; UK: /əˈplaɪzɪz/ often crisper /ɪ/ and less vowel reduction in fast speech; AU: similar to US but with a more fronted /aɪ/ and sometimes a rounded onset in connected speech. The final /z/ remains voiced in all. Overall rhythm is similar, but Australians may exhibit a softer final /z/ in rapid delivery.
The difficulty comes from the cluster of sounds: a weak initial schwa, the prominent diphthong /aɪ/ in the middle, and the final voiced /z/ that can blend with the preceding /l/ if rushed. The transition into /aɪ/ from /pl/ requires precise tongue movement; the /l/ is light, and the final /z/ must remain voiced without voicing interruption from adjacent consonants. Mastery requires clear articulation of the /pl/ onset and a controlled release into /aɪ/ before the /z/.
A key nuance is that it functions both as a verb form (third-person singular present of apply) and as a derived plural for a concept that references multiple applications? Actually, the verb only; the noun form is 'application' or 'applications.' The uniqueness lies in its pronunciation shape: the /p/ and /l/ must connect smoothly into the /aɪ/ glide, preventing a harsh break between /pl/ and /aɪ/. In rapid speech, you may hear a slight reduction of the vowel in the first syllable, but careful speakers keep /ə/ clearly before /ˈplaɪ/.
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