qualify
Americanverb (used with object)
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to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, credentials, etc.; make competent.
to qualify oneself for a job.
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to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive.
to qualify an endorsement.
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Grammar. to modify.
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to make less violent, severe, or unpleasant; moderate; mitigate.
- Synonyms:
- diminish, reduce, temper, soften, ameliorate
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to attribute some quality or qualities to; characterize, call, or name.
She cannot qualify his attitude as either rational or irrational.
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to modify or alter the flavor or strength of.
He qualified his coffee with a few drops of brandy.
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Law. to certify as legally competent.
verb (used without object)
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to be fitted or competent for something.
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to get authority, license, power, etc., as by fulfilling required conditions, taking an oath, etc.
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Sports. to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest.
He qualified in the trials.
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to fire a rifle or pistol on a target range for a score high enough to achieve a rating of marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.
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Military. to pass a practical test in gunnery.
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Law. to perform the actions necessary to acquire legal power or capacity.
By filing a bond and taking an oath he qualified as executor.
verb
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to provide or be provided with the abilities or attributes necessary for a task, office, duty, etc
his degree qualifies him for the job
he qualifies for the job, but would he do it well?
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(tr) to make less strong, harsh, or violent; moderate or restrict
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(tr) to modify or change the strength or flavour of
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(tr) grammar another word for modify
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(tr) to attribute a quality to; characterize
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(intr) to progress to the final stages of a competition, as by winning preliminary contests
Related Words
See modify.
Other Word Forms
- misqualify verb
- nonqualifying adjective
- overqualify verb
- prequalify verb
- qualifiable adjective
- qualificatory adjective
- qualifyingly adverb
- requalify verb
- superqualify verb
- unqualifying adjective
- unqualifyingly adverb
- unrequalified adjective
Etymology
Origin of qualify
First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin quālificāre, from Latin quāl(is) “of what sort” + -ificāre -ify
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His education was dominated by the study of the Quran, and he qualified as a cleric by the age of 11.
From BBC
No one else among the senior clergy was seen as qualified, and the idea of a so-called leadership council was rejected.
From Los Angeles Times
We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team.
From BBC
Antonio's two‑month contract gives him the chance to reassess his future in the summer, with Jamaica still capable of qualifying for the World Cup through March's play-offs.
From BBC
Slot's side are still in the FA Cup and Champions League and the reality is they possess a stronger chance of winning silverware and qualifying for next season's Champions League with Salah.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
