- 1 [intransitive] to reach the standard of ability or knowledge needed to do a particular job, for example by completing a course of study or passing exams How long does it take to qualify? qualify as something He qualified as a doctor last year. Wordfindertrainingapprentice, certificate, coaching, college, course, intern, probation, qualify, training, work experience give skills/knowledge
- 2 [transitive] to give somebody the skills and knowledge they need to do something qualify somebody (for something) This training course will qualify you for a better job. qualify somebody to do something The test qualifies you to drive heavy vehicles. have/give right
- 3 [intransitive, transitive] to have or give somebody the right to do something qualify (for something) If you live in the area, you qualify for a parking permit. To qualify, you must have lived in this country for at least three years. qualify somebody (for something) Paying a fee doesn't automatically qualify you for membership. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbautomatically prepositionfor See full entry for competition
- 4 [intransitive] to be of a high enough standard to enter a competition; to defeat another person or team in order to enter or continue in a competition He failed to qualify. qualify for something They qualified for the World Cup. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbeasily verb + qualifyfail to prepositionfor See full entry fit description
- 5[intransitive, transitive] to have the right qualities to be described as a particular thing qualify (as something) Do you think this dress qualifies as evening wear? qualify something (as something) It's an old building, but that doesn't qualify it as an ancient monument! Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbbarely, hardly prepositionas See full entry statement
- 6[transitive] qualify something | qualify what… to add something to a previous statement to make the meaning less strong or less general I want to qualify what I said earlier—I didn't mean he couldn't do the job, only that he would need supervision. grammar
- 7 [transitive] qualify something (of a word) to describe another word in a particular way In ‘the open door’, ‘open’ is an adjective qualifying ‘door’. Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘describe in a particular way’): from French qualifier, from medieval Latin qualificare, from Latin qualis ‘of what kind, of such a kind’ (see quality).Extra examples England failed to qualify for the final. She spent seven years qualifying in law. South Korea duly qualified for the finals when they beat Italy 6–1. You will automatically qualify for a pension. after qualifying as a teacher in 1992 people who qualify for the grant on the grounds of disability Are you qualified to administer drugs? He trained and qualified with a big law firm in the city. I want to qualify what I said earlier—I didn’t mean he couldn’t do the job, only that he would need supervision. Membership of the scheme qualifies you for the discount. She didn’t qualify for a full pension. She qualified as a doctor last year. The training should qualify you for a better job. To qualify for membership a company must prove that it is well managed and financially sound. You have to be over 60 to qualify.
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BrE BrE//ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they qualify BrE BrE//ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪ//
he / she / it qualifies BrE BrE//ˈkwɒlɪfaɪz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪz//
past simple qualified BrE BrE//ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd//
past participle qualified BrE BrE//ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd//
-ing form qualifying BrE BrE//ˈkwɒlɪfaɪɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: qualify
