qualify
gb/kwˈɑləfˌaɪ/ us/kwˈɑləfˌaɪ/
B1
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Meet necessary requirements
To have or get the right skills, experience, or conditions needed for something.
Usage pattern:
to qualify for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'qualify' with 'quality'. They are unrelated in meaning.
Synonyms
be eligible (More formal; often used in legal or administrative contexts.)
Antonyms
be disqualified (Means to be declared not allowed to take part, usually after failing to meet rules.)
Collocations
qualify for a job
|qualify for benefits
|qualify for the final
|qualify for a loan
|qualify for the Olympics
Themes
career
|sports
|education
|work
|business
Examples
- She qualified for the finals after winning her heat.
- You must earn at least $50,000 a year to qualify for the program.
- He finally qualified for the national team.
- We don't qualify for free healthcare under the current rules.
Learner examples
- I qualified for the race.
- She qualifies for the new job.
- They qualify for free food.
- You qualify for the game.
Verb
B1
action
2
Gain official certification
To finish study or training and be allowed to work in a job.
Usage pattern:
to qualify as [a profession]
Common mistake:
Learners may forget to use 'as' before the profession title.
Synonyms
certify (Often used for the formal act of giving official status after meeting requirements.)
Antonyms
fail (To not succeed in passing the required exams or training.)
Collocations
qualify as a doctor
|qualify as a lawyer
|qualify as a teacher
Themes
career
|education
|work
Examples
- After six years of study, she finally qualified as a doctor.
- He qualified as a pilot last year.
- You need to pass all modules to qualify as an engineer.
Learner examples
- I want to qualify as a nurse.
- She qualified as a teacher last year.
- He will qualify as a chef soon.
Verb
B2
action
3
Add limits to statement
To change what you say so it is less strong or more exact.
Usage pattern:
to qualify [a statement/remark]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'to pass an exam'; here it is about changing how strong a statement is.
Synonyms
modify (More general; means to change something, not only limit it.)
Antonyms
emphasize (To make something stronger instead of limiting it.)
Collocations
qualify a claim
|qualify a remark
|qualify an opinion
Themes
communication
|logic
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I should qualify my earlier statement by noting that prices vary by region.
- He qualified his praise with some criticism.
- The minister qualified her comments after public backlash.
Learner examples
- He qualified his answer with an example.
- She qualified her opinion with facts.
- I qualified my statement about the weather.
Verb
technical
C1
action
4
Describe as having quality
To say that someone or something has a quality.
Usage pattern:
to qualify [someone/something] as [adjective/noun]
Synonyms
classify (Means to put into a category; not always about qualities.)
Antonyms
disqualify (In some contexts, means to declare not suitable or lacking qualities.)
Collocations
qualify someone as incompetent
|qualify something as urgent
Themes
language
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The law qualifies such acts as criminal offenses.
- Would you qualify this behavior as rude?
- They qualified the event as a success.
Learner examples
- I qualify this book as boring.
- We qualify the plan as good.
- She qualifies his words as rude.
Grammar
Dictionary form
qualify
IPA
GB/kwˈɑləfˌaɪ/
US/kwˈɑləfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
qual - i - fy (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (qual)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: qualify
- 3rd Person Singular: qualifies
- Present Participle: qualifying
- Past: qualified
Word family
Forms
qualifies
verb
qualifying
verb
qualified
verb
Core family
qualification
noun B1
Related words
quality
noun A2
qualifier
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
qualitative
adjective B2
qualitatively
adverb
Expressions
qualify as
1/kwˈɑləfˌaɪ ˈæz/
phrasal verb
Be accepted as something
To be seen or accepted as something because you meet the rules or meaning of the word.
Examples
- This meal qualifies as healthy under our guidelines.
- Does his action qualify as self-defense?
qualify for
1/kwˈɑləfˌaɪ fɚ/
phrasal verb
Meet requirements for something
To have what is needed to get or do something.
Examples
- Do I qualify for free delivery?
- She qualified for the championship after months of training.