Meaning & use
reapplied
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“reapplied” is a form of “reapply”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Put something such as a cream, paint or coating on a surface a second time or again.
Grammar: Takes an object: she reapplied the lotion.
Patterns
- reapplied something
- reapplied something to something
He reapplied sunscreen after swimming.
The painter reapplied a coat of varnish to the table.
She reapplied her lipstick before the interview.
verbintransitive
Made a fresh formal request, for a job, place or permit, after an earlier attempt.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by for: she reapplied for the grant.
Patterns
- reapplied for something
- reapplied to someone
After being turned down, Marta reapplied for the scholarship the next year.
He reapplied to the same university with a stronger essay.
They reapplied for a visa once the old one expired.
Word forms
| base form | reapply |
|---|---|
| third person singular | reapplies |
| -ing form | reapplying |
Common combinations
- reapplied sunscreen
- We reapplied sunscreen every two hours.
- reapplied for a job
- She reapplied for a job at the same firm.
- reapplied a coat of paint
- He reapplied a coat of paint to the fence.
- reapplied pressure
- The nurse reapplied pressure to the cut.
- reapplied to the program
- He reapplied to the program a year later.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reapplied for
- Said of requests: it means asked again, and cannot be used for creams or paint.
- put on again
- Put on again is more casual and fits clothes and creams, whereas reapplied sounds slightly more careful.
- retried
- Retried is much looser and says only that an attempt was repeated, with no sense of applying anything.
Opposites
Word family
- reapply verb
- to apply again
- reapplication noun
- the act of applying again
- application noun
- a formal request, or the act of putting something on
- applicant noun
- a person who applies for something
Commonly confused: reapplied or replied?
reapplied vs replied
Replied means answered. It is a different word even though the spelling is close to reapplied.
Practice
After the first application was rejected, Jun ____ for the same position the following spring.
Choose one answer.
Reapplied is the past tense and fits the time marker. Replied has a different meaning, and the other two forms do not fit the past-tense frame.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reapplied”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.