Many high school students have begun 'applying for college'. [=asking to be accepted as students at colleges or universities by filling out and sending applications]
He was able to stop the bleeding by 'applying' pressure to the cut. [=by pressing on/against the cut]
We can handle these problems effectively if we 'apply' the lessons learned from past experiences.
(..) complex case, murder in the first degree. Premeditated murder is the most serious charge tried in our criminal courts. You've listened to the testimony, had the law interpreted as it applies in this case. It's now your duty to sit down and try and separate the facts from the fancy. One man is dead. (..)1957 12 Angry Men