qualify
verb
qual·i·fy ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī 
qualified; qualifying
transitive verb
1
a
: to reduce from a general to a particular or restricted form : modify
b
: to make less harsh or strict : moderate
c
: to alter the strength or flavor of
d
: to limit or modify the meaning of
qualify a noun
2
: to characterize by naming an attribute : describe
cannot qualify it as … either glad or sorry
T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot3
a
: to fit by training, skill, or ability for a special purpose
b(1)
: to declare competent or adequate : certify
(2)
: to invest with legal capacity : license
intransitive verb
1
: to be or become fit (as for an office) : meet the required standard
2
: to acquire legal or competent power or capacity
has just qualified as a lawyer
3
a
: to exhibit a required degree of ability in a preliminary contest
qualified for the finals
b
: to shoot well enough to earn a marksmanship badge
Synonyms
- modify
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
His experience qualifies him for the job. The training will qualify you to sell insurance. They both qualify for the job. Did she qualify to receive financial aid? Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. The win qualifies her to compete in the final race. The certification qualifies you to teach only in this state. See More
Recent Examples on the Web As a team, Germany performed better in the group-stage games than most expected, going 4-1 in Group B to qualify for the 16-team single-elimination knockout stage. Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 The Reproductive Freedom for All proposal filed a record number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2022 To qualify for the deal, diners must follow the restaurant on Instagram and like one of its Maki Monday posts. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Previously, families had to earn less than $65,000 annually to qualify. Joseph Pisani, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 To qualify, Southwest Rapid Rewards members usually need to fly at least 100 one-way flights or earn at least 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 But to qualify for screening, a person must be 50 to 80 years old, have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (a pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 10 years, and so on) and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Simar Bajaj, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2022 Patrick Fishburn ended up two shots short in his second chance to qualify for the PGA Tour’s 2022-23 season. The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 Tait won a regional competition earlier this year to qualify for Stuttgart. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 See More
Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 The Reproductive Freedom for All proposal filed a record number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. Detroit Free Press, 10 Sep. 2022 To qualify for the deal, diners must follow the restaurant on Instagram and like one of its Maki Monday posts. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Previously, families had to earn less than $65,000 annually to qualify. Joseph Pisani, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 To qualify, Southwest Rapid Rewards members usually need to fly at least 100 one-way flights or earn at least 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 But to qualify for screening, a person must be 50 to 80 years old, have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (a pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 10 years, and so on) and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Simar Bajaj, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2022 Patrick Fishburn ended up two shots short in his second chance to qualify for the PGA Tour’s 2022-23 season. The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 Tait won a regional competition earlier this year to qualify for Stuttgart. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle French qualifier, from Medieval Latin qualificare, from Latin qualis
First Known Use
1533, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing qualify
Kids Definition
qualify
verb
qual·i·fy ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī
qualified; qualifying
1
: to give the training, skill, or ability needed for a special purpose His experience qualifies him for the job.
2
: to have or show the skill or ability needed for a special purpose or event They both qualify for the job.
3
: to narrow down or make less general in meaning
I qualify my statement.
Adverbs qualify verbs.
Legal Definition
qualify
verb
qual·i·fy ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī
qualified; qualifying
transitive verb
1
: to limit or modify in some way
2
: to make or consider eligible or fit
his training and experience qualified him as an expert witness
3
: to issue a certificate or license to
intransitive verb
1
: to meet certain requirements or criteria
qualify for a tax credit
2
: to acquire competent power or capacity
has just qualified as a lawyer
qualifying
verb
1
as in modifying
to limit the meaning of (as a noun) qualifying the noun "adventure" in the title of your story with a descriptive adjective would make it more attention-grabbing Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- modifying
- altering
- twisting
- misrepresenting
- coloring
- narrowing
- distorting
- warping
- misstating
- perverting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expanding
- widening
- broadening
2
as in preparing
to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function raising five children has qualified her to be an advice columnist on parenting Synonyms & Similar Words
- preparing
- equipping
- training
- enabling
- fitting
- teaching
- adjusting
- seasoning
- readying
- conditioning
- tailoring
- shaping
- adapting
- entitling
- grooming
- authorizing
- schooling
- empowering
- educating
- tutoring
- accustoming
- habituating
- instructing
- indoctrinating
3
as in entitling
to give a right to this coupon qualifies the bearer for an extra 15% off the discounted price Synonyms & Similar Words
- entitling
- authorizing
- enabling
- permitting
- privileging
- empowering
- licensing
- approving
- allowing
- sanctioning
- certificating
- certifying
- endorsing
- validating
- enfranchising
- legitimizing
- recertifying
- ratifying
- accrediting
- letting
- reaccrediting
- licencing
- warranting
- reapproving
- revalidating
- rechartering
- chartering
- indorsing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disqualifying
- disabling
- forbidding
- proscribing
- invalidating
- disenfranchising
- nullifying
- disempowering
- decertifying
- disallowing
- delegitimizing
4
as in enabling
to give official or legal power to passing the state bar exam will qualify you to practice law Synonyms & Similar Words
- enabling
- authorizing
- empowering
- licensing
- certifying
- entitling
- permitting
- accrediting
- commissioning
- investing
- vesting
- warranting
- sanctioning
- approving
- allowing
- chartering
- validating
- licencing
- confirming
- endorsing
- credentialing
- credentialling
- affirming
- initiating
- installing
- clearing
- inducting
- privileging
- letting
- inaugurating
- enfranchising
- indorsing
- okaying
- swearing in
- OK'ing
- instating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disqualifying
- excluding
- preventing
- denying
- impeding
- blocking
- stopping
- discouraging
- hindering
- inhibiting
- banning
- barring
- obstructing
- prohibiting
- constraining
- holding back
- forbidding
- proscribing
- disfranchising
- disbarring
- outlawing
- disenfranchising
- disallowing
- enjoining
- vetoing
- shutting out
- interdicting