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

Platforms would qualify for immunity only if the companies “meet high standards of neutrality, transparency, fairness and nondiscrimination,” Trump said.

From Los Angeles Times

In that concurrence, Ho declared that unauthorized immigration may qualify as an “invasion” under the Constitution akin to a foreign army storming over the border to wage war.

From Slate

His reasoning goes like this: The government may decide that immigrants who lack legal status qualify as “invading aliens.”

From Slate

Teachers, who don’t always qualify for state disability or pay during leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act, are instead expected to exhaust sick days, pay for their own substitutes, return to work before they’re fully healed or time our births with summer vacation.

From Los Angeles Times

Every seller has that option, but if they choose to sell to someone else, they won’t qualify for an exemption.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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