qualify

UK: /ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ/ US: /ˈkwɑləˌfaɪ/ ,(kwol′ə fī′)

Inflections of 'qualify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

qualifies

v 3rd person singular

qualifying

v pres p

qualified

v past

qualified

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

qual•i•fy /ˈkwɑləˌfaɪ/   v., -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, etc.:
   [~ + object] The training program qualified her for the job.
2. to show that one has the ability for something:
   [no object] She clearly qualifies for the job.
3. to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest:
   [no object] to qualify for a race.
4. to make less strong, general, or positive;
   modify or limit:
   [~ + object] Suddenly he began to qualify his initial endorsement of her candidacy.
5. to characterize, label, or briefly evaluate:
   [~ + object (+ as)] I can't qualify his approach as either good or bad.
6. Grammar modify (def. 2).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

qual•i•fy  (kwol′ə fī′), v., -fied, -fy•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge, credentials, etc.; make competent:
   to qualify oneself for a job.
2. to modify or limit in some way;
   make less strong or positive:
   to qualify an endorsement.
3. [Gram.] to modify.
4. to make less violent, severe, or unpleasant;
   moderate;
   mitigate.
5. to attribute some quality or qualities to;
   characterize, call, or name:
   She cannot qualify his attitude as either rational or irrational.
6. to modify or alter the flavor or strength of:
   He qualified his coffee with a few drops of brandy.
7. [Law.] to certify as legally competent.

v.i. 

8. to be fitted or competent for something.
9. to get authority, license, power, etc., as by fulfilling required conditions, taking an oath, etc.
10. [Sports.] to demonstrate the required ability in an initial or preliminary contest:
    He qualified in the trials.
11. to fire a rifle or pistol on a target range for a score high enough to achieve a rating of marksman, sharpshooter, or expert.
12. [Mil.] to pass a practical test in gunnery.
13. [Law.] to perform the actions necessary to acquire legal power or capacity:
    By filing a bond and taking an oath he qualified as executor.

• Medieval Latin quālificāre, equivalent. to Latin quāl(is) of what sort + -ificāre -ify
• 1525–35

qual•i•fi•ca•to•ry  (kwol′ə fi kə tôr′rē, -tōr′ē), adj.  qual′i•fy′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. fit, suit, adapt, prepare, equip.
• 2. narrow, restrict. See modify. 
• 4. meliorate, soften, temper, reduce, diminish.
• 5. designate, label.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

qualify / ˈkwɒlɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)

1. to provide or be provided with the abilities or attributes necessary for a task, office, duty, etc: her degree qualifies her for the job, he qualifies for the job, but would he do it well?
2. (transitive) to make less strong, harsh, or violent; moderate or restrict
3. (transitive) to modify or change the strength or flavour of
4. (transitive)
   another word for modify3
5. (transitive) to attribute a quality to; characterize
6. (intransitive) to progress to the final stages of a competition, as by winning preliminary contests

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French qualifier, from Medieval Latin quālificāre to characterize, from Latin quālis of what kind + facere to make

ˈqualiˌfiable adjective