verb
to apply, to use
B1
anwenden: separable verb meaning 'to apply' or 'to use'. Transitive: you can anwenden auf + accusative (etwas auf etwas anwenden). Auxiliary: haben. Mixed/irregular verb with two past participles: angewandt / angewendet. Non‑reflexive; imperative and passive forms exist. Present stem regular; used in technical and everyday contexts.
Examples
Der Techniker wandte das neue Verfahren an, weil die alte Methode versagte.
The technician applied the new procedure because the old method failed.
Sie wandte die neue Methode an.
She applied the new method.
Er hat die Regeln richtig angewendet.
He applied the rules correctly.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture applying a patch: you 'apply' (anwenden) the patch to the surface.
Sounds like 'and wend in' — imagine wending something in to use it.
Notes
Separable verb: in main clauses the prefix 'an' separates (z. B. 'er wendet das Mittel an'). Past participle has two common variants: 'angewandt' and 'angewendet'. Usually takes 'haben' as auxiliary.