Basic Details
Word: Qualify
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To reach the standard needed to do a job, enter a competition or get something; also, to make a statement less strong by adding something to it.
Synonyms: pass, be eligible, make the grade
Antonyms: fail
Word origin: From Latin qualis, of what kind.
How to Spell Qualify
Syllables: qual - i - fy
Tricky part: A single l comes before the ify ending. Quallify and qualefy are the slips most often seen.
Watch out for: quallify, qualefy, qualifie
Memory tip: Qualify starts with qual, the start of quality. To qualify, you must show the right quality.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Neeraj trained for months to qualify for the national javelin final.
Example 2: You need to be fifteen to qualify for this camp.
Example 3: Our team must win two more games to qualify for the next round.
Fun Fact
Qualify and quality both come from Latin qualis, of what kind, so to qualify was first to give something a particular quality.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix dis. Choose it:
dis
a) careful
b) gentle
c) hungry
d) qualify
Show answer
d) qualify. Disqualify is a real word; nobody says discareful, disgentle or dishungry.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
To quallify for the state swimming team, Ananya will need to cut almost two whole seconds from her best time at the next meet.
a) seconds
b) quallify
c) swimming
d) almost
Show answer
b) quallify. Quality and qualify both have a single l after qua.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Only the top three runners in each heat will fyaliuq for the final.
a) quality
b) qualify
c) quantify
d) quickly
Show answer
b) qualify. The jumble has an f, which rules out quality and quickly, and no n or t, which rules out quantify.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If you qualify for a scholarship, you ____.
a) have to pay it back at once
b) meet the conditions to receive it
c) give it to someone else
d) are too old to apply
Show answer
b) meet the conditions to receive it
2. In 'The film was good, but I must qualify that: the ending was weak', qualify means to ____.
a) give someone a prize
b) make a statement less strong
c) watch something a second time
d) pass an exam or a test
Show answer
b) make a statement less strong
