How to pronounce apply
Say it like uh-PLY. Apply has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce apply. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- PLY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Apply pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PLYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of apply
American and British speakers say apply in essentially the same way: /əˈplaɪ/ in the US and /əˈplaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-PLY.
What does apply mean?
- put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose“use your head!”“we only use Spanish at home”
- be pertinent or relevant or applicable“The same laws apply to you!”“This theory holds for all irrational numbers”
- ask (for something)“He applied for a leave of absence”“She applied for college”
Where does apply come from?
Inherited from Middle English aplien, borrowed from Old French applier, from Latin applicō, from ad- + plicō (“fold; arrive”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with apply
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of apply.
Questions about saying apply
How do you pronounce apply?
Say uh-PLY. The American pronunciation is /əˈplaɪ/. In British English it is /əˈplaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in apply?
Apply has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLY). Broken into parts: uh · PLY.
Do Americans and Brits say apply the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈplaɪ/ and the British form is /əˈplaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.