Apply
Apply verb - To occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention.
Usage example: Sam applied himself to writing thank-you letters to everyone who'd helped sponsor him for the charity walk
Give is a synonym for apply in collect topic. In some cases you can use "Give" instead a verb "Apply", when it comes to topics like work hard. popular alternative
Give
Give verb - To occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention.
Usage example: totally gave himself to his studies in the hopes of winning a scholarship for next year
Apply is a synonym for give in collect topic. You can use "Apply" instead a verb "Give", if it concerns topics such as perform action. popular alternative
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- She badgers people so they give her stuff and let her play with them, and becomes very upset when she doesn't get her way, while she thinks the rules don't apply to her.
- She also agrees to give up her own noble right to duel the noble offender when the King agrees to change the law since that would undercut the point that the law must apply to all.
Source: Protagonist-Centered Morality - The Ad Hoc fallacy is to give an after-the-fact explanation which doesn't apply to other situations.
Source: Ad Hoc
Cite this Source
Give and Apply. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/apply/give
Apply & Give. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/apply/give>.
Give or Apply. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/apply/give.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "apply" and "give" have occurred on timeline