# qualify

/ˈkwɑɫəˌfaɪ/ (US) · /kwˈɒlɪfˌaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/qualify
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to reach a standard

verb · CEFR B1

to pass an exam or finish a course so that you can do a particular job.

For teachers: to achieve the necessary credentials or complete the required training to practice a profession.

- After three years of hard study, she finally qualified as a doctor.
- He spent four years in an apprenticeship before he finally qualified as a master carpenter, allowing him to take on independent contracts.

Usage: often used with the preposition 'as' followed by a profession.

### 2. to be eligible

verb · CEFR B1

to have the right to have or do something because you meet certain rules.

For teachers: to meet the necessary criteria or conditions to be eligible for a benefit or status.

- You must live in the city for a year to qualify for the housing grant.
- The legal team reviewed the application to determine whether the non-profit would qualify for tax-exempt status under the new regulations.

Usage: usually takes the preposition 'for'.

### 3. competition

verb · CEFR B1

to succeed in one part of a competition so that you can move to the next stage.

For teachers: to perform successfully in a preliminary heat or round to earn a place in the final or next stage of a contest.

- The runner finished second in her heat, so she qualified for the final.
- Despite a slow start in the opening rounds, the national team managed to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.

Usage: often used with 'for'.

### 4. to limit a statement

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to add something to a statement to make it less general or less strong.

For teachers: to modify or limit the scope of a statement by adding conditions or reservations.

- I need to qualify my earlier comment because I don't want you to misunderstand me.
- The researcher felt it necessary to qualify her findings, noting that the small sample size might not represent the broader population accurately.

Usage: transitive verb taking a direct object such as 'statement', 'remark', or 'claim'.

## Examples

- She worked hard to qualify as a doctor.
- After winning the regional tournament, the team will qualify for the national championships held in the capital.
- To qualify for the senior management position, candidates must demonstrate at least a decade of experience in the sector and hold a relevant postgraduate degree.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.