26984 words

qualify

10 definitions • 22 examples
1
to successfully finish a training course so that you are able to do a job; to have or achieve the necessary skills, etc.:

Examples:

She hopes to qualify (as a lawyer) at the end of the year.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] This course qualifies you to teach in any secondary school.
2
to have the legal right to have or do something because of the situation you are in, or to cause someone to have such a right:

Examples:

She doesn't qualify for maternity leave because she hasn't been in her job long enough.
To qualify for the competition you need to be over 18.
Being a single parent qualifies you for extra benefits.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] figurative He thinks the fact that he's worked here longer than the rest of us qualifies him (= gives him the right) to tell us all what to do.
3
to succeed in getting into a competition:

Examples:

Nigeria was the first team to qualify for the World Cup.
England has to win tonight's qualifying match to advance to the next round of the competition.
Our goal has always been to reach the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.
4
to limit the strength or meaning of a statement:

Examples:

I'd like to qualify my criticisms of the school's failings, by adding that it's a very happy place.
5
In grammar, a word or phrase that qualifies another word or phrase limits its meaning and makes it less general:

Examples:

In the sentence "He walked quickly along the road", "quickly" and "along the road" qualify "walked".
6
to achieve or have the standard of skill, knowledge, or ability that is necessary for doing or being something, or to cause someone to reach that standard:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] She was qualified to teach high school mathematics and physics.
[ I ] Derrick won his tennis match and qualified for the semifinals.
[ I ] James hopes to qualify as a nurse practitioner.
7
To qualify is also to have the legal right to have or do something:

Examples:

[ I ] She doesn’t qualify for maternity leave because she hasn’t worked there long enough.
8
to limit the strength or meaning of a statement:

Examples:

The press secretary later qualified the president’s remarks by saying he hadn’t been aware of all of the facts.
9
to successfully finish a course of study or training or achieve the necessary skills so that you are able to do a job:

Examples:

There are many different branches of nursing which are available after qualifying.
qualify as sth She qualified as an accountant in 2006.
qualify sb to do sth The course would qualify you to work abroad.
10
to have the legal right to have or do something because of your situation, or to give someone this right:

Examples:

qualify for sth Some women may have too many gaps in their working life to qualify for a full pension.
If rates keep decreasing more borrowers will qualify for loans.
qualify sb for sth Sub prime loans are given to borrowers whose credit would not qualify them for a conventional home loan.

Navigation