Apply for a Credit Card: Meaning & How-To

Meaning 1：request a credit card (apply for a credit card)

apply for a credit card 🔊

/əˈplaɪ fɔːr ə ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːrd/

v. phr.

To ask a bank or company for a credit card so you can buy things now and pay later.

Person applying for a credit card online on a laptop

request a credit card 🔊

➕

/rɪˈkwest ə ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːrd/

v. phr.

To formally ask a bank or financial institution to issue a credit card, subject to credit approval.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Latin roots: applicare (fold), credere (trust), charta (paper).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine tapping 'apply' and a credit card appears – you're requesting trust (credit) for later payment.

📖 Example

Before starting university, I decided to apply for a credit card to help manage my expenses for books and supplies. 🔊 Before starting university, I decided to apply for a credit card to help manage my expenses for books and supplies.

🔗 Collocations

apply for a credit card online – to submit a credit card application via the internet

apply for a credit card with a low interest rate – to request a credit card that offers a low annual percentage rate

apply for a credit card for the first time – to make an initial application for a credit card

🔄 Synonyms

request a credit card (v. phr.) – to ask for a credit card from a financial institution

submit a credit card application (v. phr.) – to send in the paperwork to get a credit card

apply for a line of credit (v. phr.) – to ask for a predetermined borrowing limit, often through a credit card

🚫 Antonyms

cancel a credit card (v. phr.) – to terminate a credit card account

decline a credit card offer (v. phr.) – to refuse a credit card that is offered

🌱 Derivatives

credit card application (n.) – the form or process of applying for a credit card

credit card applicant (n.) – a person who applies for a credit card

credit card issuer (n.) – a bank or company that issues credit cards

📖 Cultural Story

The concept of credit cards emerged in the 1950s with Diners Club. The phrase 'apply for a credit card' became ubiquitous as banks promoted consumer credit, representing trust and deferred payment.