apply

If a rule, a principle, a law, etc. applies, it has some effect on the situation.

Example: The new anti-smoking law applies only to public buildings.

If you apply for something, you formally say that you want it or you want to do it.

Example: After high school, he applied to three universities and was accepted by all of them.

If you apply something such as an idea, rule, formula, or piece of information, etc., you use it to do something, work with something, or handle a situation.

Example: I found it hard to apply the principles I learned at school to the problems I faced at work.

If you apply yourself, you focus on something and work hard at it.

Example: He's really smart, but he just has a hard time applying himself to his school work.

If you apply x to y, you put or spread x on y.

Example: It's dangerous to 'apply makeup while driving a car.