qualify

[ kwol-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, qual·i·fied, qual·i·fy·ing.

1. to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, credentials, etc.; make competent:

   to qualify oneself for a job.

   Synonyms: equip, prepare, adapt, suit, fit

2. to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive:

   to qualify an endorsement.

   Synonyms: restrict, narrow

3. Grammar. to modify.
4. to make less violent, severe, or unpleasant; moderate; mitigate.

   Synonyms: diminish, reduce, temper, soften, ameliorate

5. to attribute some quality or qualities to; characterize, call, or name:

   She cannot qualify his attitude as either rational or irrational.

   Synonyms: designate, label

6. to modify or alter the flavor or strength of:

   He qualified his coffee with a few drops of brandy.

7. Law. to certify as legally competent.

verb (used without object)

, qual·i·fied, qual·i·fy·ing.

1. to be fitted or competent for something.
2. to get authority, license, power, etc., as by fulfilling required conditions, taking an oath, etc.
3. Sports. to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest:

   He qualified in the trials.

4. to fire a rifle or pistol on a target range for a score high enough to achieve a rating of marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.
5. Military. to pass a practical test in gunnery.
6. Law. to perform the actions necessary to acquire legal power or capacity:

   By filing a bond and taking an oath he qualified as executor.

qualify

/ ˈkwɒlɪˌfaɪ; -ˌkeɪ-; ˈkwɒlɪfɪkətərɪ /

verb

1. to provide or be provided with the abilities or attributes necessary for a task, office, duty, etc

   he qualifies for the job, but would he do it well?

   his degree qualifies him for the job

2. tr to make less strong, harsh, or violent; moderate or restrict
3. tr to modify or change the strength or flavour of
4. tr grammar another word for modify
5. tr to attribute a quality to; characterize
6. intr to progress to the final stages of a competition, as by winning preliminary contests

Derived Forms

• qualificatory, adjective
• ˈqualiˌfiable, adjective

Other Words From

• qual·i·fi·ca·to·ry [kwol, -, uh, -fi-k, uh, -tawr-ree, -tohr-ee], adjective
• quali·fying·ly adverb
• mis·quali·fy verb misqualified misqualifying
• non·quali·fying adjective
• over·quali·fy verb overqualified overqualifying
• pre·quali·fy verb prequalified prequalifying
• re·quali·fy verb requalified requalifying
• super·quali·fy verb superqualified superqualifying
• un·quali·fying adjective
• un·quali·fying·ly adverb
• unre·quali·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualify¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin quālificāre, from Latin quāl(is) “of what sort” + -ificāre -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualify¹

C16: from Old French qualifier, from Medieval Latin quālificāre to characterize, from Latin quālis of what kind + facere to make

Synonym Study

See modify.

Example Sentences

Fox News, of course, had no soul which is why Trump’s vetting process for some key nominees simply means hiring Fox talking heads – whether they’re qualified or not.

From Salon

Jack Lisowski ended Bai Yulu’s bid to become the first woman to reach the last 32 of the UK Championship with a comfortable 6-1 win in the final qualifying round in Leicester.

From BBC

To qualify, artists could not have had more than two UK top 10 albums or two UK top 10 singles by 30 September 2024.

From BBC

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency previously warned people not to buy pre-filled pens claiming to contain weight-loss drugs, but to consult a healthcare professional qualified to prescribe medicines.

From BBC

But it’s also sent 43 players to the NHL; that doesn’t exactly make it a hockey factory but it probably qualifies it to be called a hockey workshop.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• certify
• enable
• entitle
• meet
• pass
• ready
• score
• train