qualify
KWOL-ih-feye
Qualify (verb) means to meet the requirements needed for something, such as a job, benefit, or competition stage. Example: “Our football club needs one more win to qualify for the regional tournament.”
verb
1
To meet the requirements needed for something, such as a job, benefit, or competition stage.
"Our football club needs one more win to qualify for the regional tournament."
"She qualified for the Olympic finals with a personal best time."
"Do I qualify for a student discount?"
2
To give someone the necessary training or credentials for a role.
"Two years of evening classes qualified him to teach music to young children."
"This certificate qualifies you to work as an electrician anywhere in the country."
"The course qualifies graduates to work as licensed plumbers."
3
To limit or add conditions to a statement so it is more precise.
"I would qualify that statement by saying it only applies in most cases."
"The scientist qualified her claim, noting that the results were still preliminary."
"He qualified his praise by adding that the report still needed more evidence."
How to use qualify
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo meet requirements for something, to certify someone for a role, or to add limiting conditions to a claim.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
qualify for
qualify as a
qualify a statement
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- qualifies
- Past tense
- qualified
Fill the gap
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Our football club needs one more win to _____ for the regional tournament.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French qualifier, built from "quality" plus the verb-forming suffix "-fy."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for qualify
See all rhymes for qualify →Frequently asked questions
What does “qualify” mean?
The word “qualify” means to meet the requirements needed for something, such as a job, benefit, or competition stage. In plain terms, to meet requirements for something, to certify someone for a role, or to add limiting conditions to a claim.
How do you pronounce “qualify”?
“Qualify” is pronounced KWOL-ih-feye (/ˈkwɑ.lɪ.faɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “qualify” in a sentence?
Here is “qualify” used in a sentence: “Do I qualify for a student discount?”
What is the opposite of “qualify”?
The opposite of “qualify” — its antonyms — are disqualify and unqualify.
What part of speech is “qualify”?
“Qualify” is a verb.
Where does the word “qualify” come from?
The word “qualify” comes from Middle French. Borrowed from Middle French qualifier, built from "quality" plus the verb-forming suffix "-fy.".
Is “qualify” a common word?
“Qualify” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “qualify” have?
“Qualify” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to meet the requirements needed for something, such as a job, benefit, or competition stage.
What is the difference between 'qualify for' and 'qualify as'?
'Qualify for' means to meet the requirements needed to receive or enter something, as in 'qualify for a loan' or 'qualify for the finals.' 'Qualify as' means to have the credentials to be counted as something, as in 'qualify as a nurse.'
What is the difference between 'qualify' and 'certify'?
To qualify is to meet the requirements or gain the training needed for a role, while to certify is to formally confirm in writing that a standard has been met. A person qualifies through study and testing, and an authority certifies that they have done so.
What is the difference between 'qualify' and 'quality'?
'Qualify' is a verb meaning to meet requirements or gain credentials for something. 'Quality' is a noun referring to a characteristic or standard of excellence, so the two are different words and are not interchangeable despite their similar spelling.
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