diff --git a/cmd/client-gen/args/args.go b/cmd/client-gen/args/args.go
index 949369cd..2f31de84 100644
--- a/cmd/client-gen/args/args.go
+++ b/cmd/client-gen/args/args.go
@@ -52,16 +52,22 @@ type CustomArgs struct {
 	// PluralExceptions specify list of exceptions used when pluralizing certain types.
 	// For example 'Endpoints:Endpoints', otherwise the pluralizer will generate 'Endpointes'.
 	PluralExceptions []string
+
+	// ApplyConfigurationPackage is the package of apply builders generated by typebuilder-gen.
+	// If non-empty, Apply functions are generated for each type and reference the apply builders.
+	// If empty (""), Apply functions are not generated.
+	ApplyConfigurationPackage string
 }
 
 func NewDefaults() (*args.GeneratorArgs, *CustomArgs) {
 	genericArgs := args.Default().WithoutDefaultFlagParsing()
 	customArgs := &CustomArgs{
-		ClientsetName:    "internalclientset",
-		ClientsetAPIPath: "/apis",
-		ClientsetOnly:    false,
-		FakeClient:       true,
-		PluralExceptions: []string{"Endpoints:Endpoints"},
+		ClientsetName:             "internalclientset",
+		ClientsetAPIPath:          "/apis",
+		ClientsetOnly:             false,
+		FakeClient:                true,
+		PluralExceptions:          []string{"Endpoints:Endpoints"},
+		ApplyConfigurationPackage: "",
 	}
 	genericArgs.CustomArgs = customArgs
 	genericArgs.InputDirs = DefaultInputDirs
@@ -84,6 +90,7 @@ func (ca *CustomArgs) AddFlags(fs *pflag.FlagSet, inputBase string) {
 	pflag.BoolVar(&ca.FakeClient, "fake-clientset", ca.FakeClient, "when set, client-gen will generate the fake clientset that can be used in tests")
 
 	fs.StringSliceVar(&ca.PluralExceptions, "plural-exceptions", ca.PluralExceptions, "list of comma separated plural exception definitions in Type:PluralizedType form")
+	fs.StringVar(&ca.ApplyConfigurationPackage, "apply-configuration-package", ca.ApplyConfigurationPackage, "optional package of apply configurations, generated by applyconfiguration-gen, that are required to generate Apply functions for each type in the clientset. By default Apply functions are not generated.")
 
 	// support old flags
 	fs.SetNormalizeFunc(mapFlagName("clientset-path", "output-package", fs.GetNormalizeFunc()))
diff --git a/cmd/client-gen/generators/client_generator.go b/cmd/client-gen/generators/client_generator.go
index 1f1c3b4c..5b27a112 100644
--- a/cmd/client-gen/generators/client_generator.go
+++ b/cmd/client-gen/generators/client_generator.go
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func DefaultNameSystem() string {
 	return "public"
 }
 
-func packageForGroup(gv clientgentypes.GroupVersion, typeList []*types.Type, clientsetPackage string, groupPackageName string, groupGoName string, apiPath string, srcTreePath string, inputPackage string, boilerplate []byte) generator.Package {
+func packageForGroup(gv clientgentypes.GroupVersion, typeList []*types.Type, clientsetPackage string, groupPackageName string, groupGoName string, apiPath string, srcTreePath string, inputPackage string, applyBuilderPackage string, boilerplate []byte) generator.Package {
 	groupVersionClientPackage := filepath.Join(clientsetPackage, "typed", strings.ToLower(groupPackageName), strings.ToLower(gv.Version.NonEmpty()))
 	return &generator.DefaultPackage{
 		PackageName: strings.ToLower(gv.Version.NonEmpty()),
@@ -151,13 +151,15 @@ func packageForGroup(gv clientgentypes.GroupVersion, typeList []*types.Type, cli
 					DefaultGen: generator.DefaultGen{
 						OptionalName: strings.ToLower(c.Namers["private"].Name(t)),
 					},
-					outputPackage:    groupVersionClientPackage,
-					clientsetPackage: clientsetPackage,
-					group:            gv.Group.NonEmpty(),
-					version:          gv.Version.String(),
-					groupGoName:      groupGoName,
-					typeToMatch:      t,
-					imports:          generator.NewImportTracker(),
+					outputPackage:             groupVersionClientPackage,
+					inputPackage:              inputPackage,
+					clientsetPackage:          clientsetPackage,
+					applyConfigurationPackage: applyBuilderPackage,
+					group:                     gv.Group.NonEmpty(),
+					version:                   gv.Version.String(),
+					groupGoName:               groupGoName,
+					typeToMatch:               t,
+					imports:                   generator.NewImportTracker(),
 				})
 			}
 
@@ -390,9 +392,9 @@ func Packages(context *generator.Context, arguments *args.GeneratorArgs) generat
 			gv := clientgentypes.GroupVersion{Group: group.Group, Version: version.Version}
 			types := gvToTypes[gv]
 			inputPath := gvPackages[gv]
-			packageList = append(packageList, packageForGroup(gv, orderer.OrderTypes(types), clientsetPackage, group.PackageName, groupGoNames[gv], customArgs.ClientsetAPIPath, arguments.OutputBase, inputPath, boilerplate))
+			packageList = append(packageList, packageForGroup(gv, orderer.OrderTypes(types), clientsetPackage, group.PackageName, groupGoNames[gv], customArgs.ClientsetAPIPath, arguments.OutputBase, inputPath, customArgs.ApplyConfigurationPackage, boilerplate))
 			if customArgs.FakeClient {
-				packageList = append(packageList, fake.PackageForGroup(gv, orderer.OrderTypes(types), clientsetPackage, group.PackageName, groupGoNames[gv], inputPath, boilerplate))
+				packageList = append(packageList, fake.PackageForGroup(gv, orderer.OrderTypes(types), clientsetPackage, group.PackageName, groupGoNames[gv], inputPath, customArgs.ApplyConfigurationPackage, boilerplate))
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/fake_client_generator.go b/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/fake_client_generator.go
index 4b3854be..7e11d782 100644
--- a/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/fake_client_generator.go
+++ b/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/fake_client_generator.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 	clientgentypes "k8s.io/code-generator/cmd/client-gen/types"
 )
 
-func PackageForGroup(gv clientgentypes.GroupVersion, typeList []*types.Type, clientsetPackage string, groupPackageName string, groupGoName string, inputPackage string, boilerplate []byte) generator.Package {
+func PackageForGroup(gv clientgentypes.GroupVersion, typeList []*types.Type, clientsetPackage string, groupPackageName string, groupGoName string, inputPackage string, applyBuilderPackage string, boilerplate []byte) generator.Package {
 	outputPackage := filepath.Join(clientsetPackage, "typed", strings.ToLower(groupPackageName), strings.ToLower(gv.Version.NonEmpty()), "fake")
 	// TODO: should make this a function, called by here and in client-generator.go
 	realClientPackage := filepath.Join(clientsetPackage, "typed", strings.ToLower(groupPackageName), strings.ToLower(gv.Version.NonEmpty()))
@@ -54,13 +54,14 @@ func PackageForGroup(gv clientgentypes.GroupVersion, typeList []*types.Type, cli
 					DefaultGen: generator.DefaultGen{
 						OptionalName: "fake_" + strings.ToLower(c.Namers["private"].Name(t)),
 					},
-					outputPackage: outputPackage,
-					inputPackage:  inputPackage,
-					group:         gv.Group.NonEmpty(),
-					version:       gv.Version.String(),
-					groupGoName:   groupGoName,
-					typeToMatch:   t,
-					imports:       generator.NewImportTracker(),
+					outputPackage:       outputPackage,
+					inputPackage:        inputPackage,
+					group:               gv.Group.NonEmpty(),
+					version:             gv.Version.String(),
+					groupGoName:         groupGoName,
+					typeToMatch:         t,
+					imports:             generator.NewImportTracker(),
+					applyBuilderPackage: applyBuilderPackage,
 				})
 			}
 
diff --git a/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/generator_fake_for_type.go b/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/generator_fake_for_type.go
index 9efe024f..2ea24c1a 100644
--- a/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/generator_fake_for_type.go
+++ b/cmd/client-gen/generators/fake/generator_fake_for_type.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package fake
 
 import (
 	"io"
+	gopath "path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -32,13 +33,14 @@ import (
 // genFakeForType produces a file for each top-level type.
 type genFakeForType struct {
 	generator.DefaultGen
-	outputPackage string
-	group         string
-	version       string
-	groupGoName   string
-	inputPackage  string
-	typeToMatch   *types.Type
-	imports       namer.ImportTracker
+	outputPackage       string
+	group               string
+	version             string
+	groupGoName         string
+	inputPackage        string
+	typeToMatch         *types.Type
+	imports             namer.ImportTracker
+	applyBuilderPackage string
 }
 
 var _ generator.Generator = &genFakeForType{}
@@ -127,12 +129,15 @@ func (g *genFakeForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w io.
 		"GetOptions":           c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "GetOptions"}),
 		"ListOptions":          c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "ListOptions"}),
 		"PatchOptions":         c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "PatchOptions"}),
+		"ApplyOptions":         c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "ApplyOptions"}),
 		"UpdateOptions":        c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "UpdateOptions"}),
 		"Everything":           c.Universe.Function(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels", Name: "Everything"}),
 		"GroupVersionResource": c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema", Name: "GroupVersionResource"}),
 		"GroupVersionKind":     c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema", Name: "GroupVersionKind"}),
 		"PatchType":            c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types", Name: "PatchType"}),
+		"ApplyPatchType":       c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types", Name: "ApplyPatchType"}),
 		"watchInterface":       c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch", Name: "Interface"}),
+		"jsonMarshal":          c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "encoding/json", Name: "Marshal"}),
 
 		"NewRootListAction":              c.Universe.Function(types.Name{Package: pkgClientGoTesting, Name: "NewRootListAction"}),
 		"NewListAction":                  c.Universe.Function(types.Name{Package: pkgClientGoTesting, Name: "NewListAction"}),
@@ -161,6 +166,13 @@ func (g *genFakeForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w io.
 		"ExtractFromListOptions":         c.Universe.Function(types.Name{Package: pkgClientGoTesting, Name: "ExtractFromListOptions"}),
 	}
 
+	generateApply := len(g.applyBuilderPackage) > 0
+	if generateApply {
+		// Generated apply builder type references required for generated Apply function
+		_, gvString := util.ParsePathGroupVersion(g.inputPackage)
+		m["applyConfig"] = types.Ref(gopath.Join(g.applyBuilderPackage, gvString), t.Name.Name+"ApplyConfiguration")
+	}
+
 	if tags.NonNamespaced {
 		sw.Do(structNonNamespaced, m)
 	} else {
@@ -205,6 +217,12 @@ func (g *genFakeForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w io.
 	if tags.HasVerb("patch") {
 		sw.Do(patchTemplate, m)
 	}
+	if tags.HasVerb("apply") && generateApply {
+		sw.Do(applyTemplate, m)
+	}
+	if tags.HasVerb("applyStatus") && generateApply && genStatus(t) {
+		sw.Do(applyStatusTemplate, m)
+	}
 
 	// generate extended client methods
 	for _, e := range tags.Extensions {
@@ -273,6 +291,11 @@ func (g *genFakeForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w io.
 		if e.HasVerb("patch") {
 			sw.Do(adjustTemplate(e.VerbName, e.VerbType, patchTemplate), m)
 		}
+
+		if e.HasVerb("apply") && generateApply {
+			// TODO: Support apply on arbitrary subresource once it is supported by the api-server.
+			sw.Do(adjustTemplate(e.VerbName, e.VerbType, applyTemplate), m)
+		}
 	}
 
 	return sw.Error()
@@ -480,3 +503,52 @@ func (c *Fake$.type|publicPlural$) Patch(ctx context.Context, name string, pt $.
 	return obj.(*$.resultType|raw$), err
 }
 `
+
+var applyTemplate = `
+// Apply takes the given apply declarative configuration, applies it and returns the applied $.resultType|private$.
+func (c *Fake$.type|publicPlural$) Apply(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.applyConfig|raw$, opts $.ApplyOptions|raw$) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error) {
+	if $.inputType|private$ == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$ provided to Apply must not be nil")
+	}
+	data, err := $.jsonMarshal|raw$($.inputType|private$)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+    name := $.inputType|private$.Name
+	if name == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$.Name must be provided to Apply")
+	}
+	obj, err := c.Fake.
+		$if .namespaced$Invokes($.NewPatchSubresourceAction|raw$($.type|allLowercasePlural$Resource, c.ns, *name, $.ApplyPatchType|raw$, data), &$.resultType|raw${})
+		$else$Invokes($.NewRootPatchSubresourceAction|raw$($.type|allLowercasePlural$Resource, *name, $.ApplyPatchType|raw$, data), &$.resultType|raw${})$end$
+	if obj == nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return obj.(*$.resultType|raw$), err
+}
+`
+
+var applyStatusTemplate = `
+// ApplyStatus was generated because the type contains a Status member.
+// Add a +genclient:noStatus comment above the type to avoid generating ApplyStatus().
+func (c *Fake$.type|publicPlural$) ApplyStatus(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.applyConfig|raw$, opts $.ApplyOptions|raw$) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error) {
+	if $.inputType|private$ == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$ provided to Apply must not be nil")
+	}
+	data, err := $.jsonMarshal|raw$($.inputType|private$)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+    name := $.inputType|private$.Name
+	if name == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$.Name must be provided to Apply")
+	}
+	obj, err := c.Fake.
+		$if .namespaced$Invokes($.NewPatchSubresourceAction|raw$($.type|allLowercasePlural$Resource, c.ns, *name, $.ApplyPatchType|raw$, data, "status"), &$.resultType|raw${})
+		$else$Invokes($.NewRootPatchSubresourceAction|raw$($.type|allLowercasePlural$Resource, *name, $.ApplyPatchType|raw$, data, "status"), &$.resultType|raw${})$end$
+	if obj == nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return obj.(*$.resultType|raw$), err
+}
+`
diff --git a/cmd/client-gen/generators/generator_for_type.go b/cmd/client-gen/generators/generator_for_type.go
index 87f66334..37dc4a36 100644
--- a/cmd/client-gen/generators/generator_for_type.go
+++ b/cmd/client-gen/generators/generator_for_type.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package generators
 
 import (
 	"io"
+	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -31,13 +32,15 @@ import (
 // genClientForType produces a file for each top-level type.
 type genClientForType struct {
 	generator.DefaultGen
-	outputPackage    string
-	clientsetPackage string
-	group            string
-	version          string
-	groupGoName      string
-	typeToMatch      *types.Type
-	imports          namer.ImportTracker
+	outputPackage             string
+	inputPackage              string
+	clientsetPackage          string
+	applyConfigurationPackage string
+	group                     string
+	version                   string
+	groupGoName               string
+	typeToMatch               *types.Type
+	imports                   namer.ImportTracker
 }
 
 var _ generator.Generator = &genClientForType{}
@@ -74,6 +77,9 @@ func genStatus(t *types.Type) bool {
 
 // GenerateType makes the body of a file implementing the individual typed client for type t.
 func (g *genClientForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w io.Writer) error {
+	generateApply := len(g.applyConfigurationPackage) > 0
+	defaultVerbTemplates := buildDefaultVerbTemplates(generateApply)
+	subresourceDefaultVerbTemplates := buildSubresourceDefaultVerbTemplates(generateApply)
 	sw := generator.NewSnippetWriter(w, c, "$", "$")
 	pkg := filepath.Base(t.Name.Package)
 	tags, err := util.ParseClientGenTags(append(t.SecondClosestCommentLines, t.CommentLines...))
@@ -143,11 +149,20 @@ func (g *genClientForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w i
 		"GetOptions":           c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "GetOptions"}),
 		"ListOptions":          c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "ListOptions"}),
 		"PatchOptions":         c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "PatchOptions"}),
+		"ApplyOptions":         c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "ApplyOptions"}),
 		"UpdateOptions":        c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1", Name: "UpdateOptions"}),
 		"PatchType":            c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types", Name: "PatchType"}),
+		"ApplyPatchType":       c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types", Name: "ApplyPatchType"}),
 		"watchInterface":       c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch", Name: "Interface"}),
 		"RESTClientInterface":  c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "k8s.io/client-go/rest", Name: "Interface"}),
 		"schemeParameterCodec": c.Universe.Variable(types.Name{Package: filepath.Join(g.clientsetPackage, "scheme"), Name: "ParameterCodec"}),
+		"jsonMarshal":          c.Universe.Type(types.Name{Package: "encoding/json", Name: "Marshal"}),
+	}
+
+	if generateApply {
+		// Generated apply configuration type references required for generated Apply function
+		_, gvString := util.ParsePathGroupVersion(g.inputPackage)
+		m["applyConfig"] = types.Ref(path.Join(g.applyConfigurationPackage, gvString), t.Name.Name+"ApplyConfiguration")
 	}
 
 	sw.Do(getterComment, m)
@@ -161,12 +176,13 @@ func (g *genClientForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w i
 	if !tags.NoVerbs {
 		if !genStatus(t) {
 			tags.SkipVerbs = append(tags.SkipVerbs, "updateStatus")
+			tags.SkipVerbs = append(tags.SkipVerbs, "applyStatus")
 		}
 		interfaceSuffix := ""
 		if len(extendedMethods) > 0 {
 			interfaceSuffix = "\n"
 		}
-		sw.Do("\n"+generateInterface(tags)+interfaceSuffix, m)
+		sw.Do("\n"+generateInterface(defaultVerbTemplates, tags)+interfaceSuffix, m)
 		// add extended verbs into interface
 		for _, v := range extendedMethods {
 			sw.Do(v.template+interfaceSuffix, v.args)
@@ -215,6 +231,13 @@ func (g *genClientForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w i
 	if tags.HasVerb("patch") {
 		sw.Do(patchTemplate, m)
 	}
+	if tags.HasVerb("apply") && generateApply {
+		sw.Do(applyTemplate, m)
+	}
+	if tags.HasVerb("applyStatus") && generateApply {
+		sw.Do(applyStatusTemplate, m)
+	}
+	// TODO: Add subresource support once apply subresources are supported on the server side
 
 	// generate expansion methods
 	for _, e := range tags.Extensions {
@@ -286,6 +309,11 @@ func (g *genClientForType) GenerateType(c *generator.Context, t *types.Type, w i
 		if e.HasVerb("patch") {
 			sw.Do(adjustTemplate(e.VerbName, e.VerbType, patchTemplate), m)
 		}
+
+		if e.HasVerb("apply") && generateApply {
+			// TODO: Support apply on arbitrary subresource once it is supported by the api-server.
+			sw.Do(adjustTemplate(e.VerbName, e.VerbType, applyTemplate), m)
+		}
 	}
 
 	return sw.Error()
@@ -298,7 +326,7 @@ func adjustTemplate(name, verbType, template string) string {
 	return strings.Replace(template, " "+strings.Title(verbType), " "+name, -1)
 }
 
-func generateInterface(tags util.Tags) string {
+func generateInterface(defaultVerbTemplates map[string]string, tags util.Tags) string {
 	// need an ordered list here to guarantee order of generated methods.
 	out := []string{}
 	for _, m := range util.SupportedVerbs {
@@ -309,23 +337,34 @@ func generateInterface(tags util.Tags) string {
 	return strings.Join(out, "\n")
 }
 
-var subresourceDefaultVerbTemplates = map[string]string{
-	"create": `Create(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.CreateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
-	"list":   `List(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, opts $.ListOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$List, error)`,
-	"update": `Update(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.UpdateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
-	"get":    `Get(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, options $.GetOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+func buildSubresourceDefaultVerbTemplates(generateApply bool) map[string]string {
+	m := map[string]string{
+		"create": `Create(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.CreateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+		"list":   `List(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, opts $.ListOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$List, error)`,
+		"update": `Update(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.UpdateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+		"get":    `Get(ctx context.Context, $.type|private$Name string, options $.GetOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+	}
+	// TODO: Support apply on arbitrary subresource once it is supported by the api-server.
+	return m
 }
 
-var defaultVerbTemplates = map[string]string{
-	"create":           `Create(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.CreateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
-	"update":           `Update(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.UpdateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
-	"updateStatus":     `UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.type|raw$, opts $.UpdateOptions|raw$) (*$.type|raw$, error)`,
-	"delete":           `Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, opts $.DeleteOptions|raw$) error`,
-	"deleteCollection": `DeleteCollection(ctx context.Context, opts $.DeleteOptions|raw$, listOpts $.ListOptions|raw$) error`,
-	"get":              `Get(ctx context.Context, name string, opts $.GetOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
-	"list":             `List(ctx context.Context, opts $.ListOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$List, error)`,
-	"watch":            `Watch(ctx context.Context, opts $.ListOptions|raw$) ($.watchInterface|raw$, error)`,
-	"patch":            `Patch(ctx context.Context, name string, pt $.PatchType|raw$, data []byte, opts $.PatchOptions|raw$, subresources ...string) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error)`,
+func buildDefaultVerbTemplates(generateApply bool) map[string]string {
+	m := map[string]string{
+		"create":           `Create(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.CreateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+		"update":           `Update(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.inputType|raw$, opts $.UpdateOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+		"updateStatus":     `UpdateStatus(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.type|raw$, opts $.UpdateOptions|raw$) (*$.type|raw$, error)`,
+		"delete":           `Delete(ctx context.Context, name string, opts $.DeleteOptions|raw$) error`,
+		"deleteCollection": `DeleteCollection(ctx context.Context, opts $.DeleteOptions|raw$, listOpts $.ListOptions|raw$) error`,
+		"get":              `Get(ctx context.Context, name string, opts $.GetOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$, error)`,
+		"list":             `List(ctx context.Context, opts $.ListOptions|raw$) (*$.resultType|raw$List, error)`,
+		"watch":            `Watch(ctx context.Context, opts $.ListOptions|raw$) ($.watchInterface|raw$, error)`,
+		"patch":            `Patch(ctx context.Context, name string, pt $.PatchType|raw$, data []byte, opts $.PatchOptions|raw$, subresources ...string) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error)`,
+	}
+	if generateApply {
+		m["apply"] = `Apply(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.applyConfig|raw$, opts $.ApplyOptions|raw$) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error)`
+		m["applyStatus"] = `ApplyStatus(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.applyConfig|raw$, opts $.ApplyOptions|raw$) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error)`
+	}
+	return m
 }
 
 // group client will implement this interface.
@@ -608,3 +647,63 @@ func (c *$.type|privatePlural$) Patch(ctx context.Context, name string, pt $.Pat
 	return
 }
 `
+
+var applyTemplate = `
+// Apply takes the given apply declarative configuration, applies it and returns the applied $.resultType|private$.
+func (c *$.type|privatePlural$) Apply(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.applyConfig|raw$, opts $.ApplyOptions|raw$) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error) {
+	if $.inputType|private$ == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$ provided to Apply must not be nil")
+	}
+	patchOpts := opts.ToPatchOptions()
+	data, err := $.jsonMarshal|raw$($.inputType|private$)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+    name := $.inputType|private$.Name
+	if name == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$.Name must be provided to Apply")
+	}
+	result = &$.resultType|raw${}
+	err = c.client.Patch($.ApplyPatchType|raw$).
+		$if .namespaced$Namespace(c.ns).$end$
+		Resource("$.type|resource$").
+		Name(*name).
+		VersionedParams(&patchOpts, $.schemeParameterCodec|raw$).
+		Body(data).
+		Do(ctx).
+		Into(result)
+	return
+}
+`
+
+var applyStatusTemplate = `
+// ApplyStatus was generated because the type contains a Status member.
+// Add a +genclient:noStatus comment above the type to avoid generating ApplyStatus().
+func (c *$.type|privatePlural$) ApplyStatus(ctx context.Context, $.inputType|private$ *$.applyConfig|raw$, opts $.ApplyOptions|raw$) (result *$.resultType|raw$, err error) {
+	if $.inputType|private$ == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$ provided to Apply must not be nil")
+	}
+	patchOpts := opts.ToPatchOptions()
+	data, err := $.jsonMarshal|raw$($.inputType|private$)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	name := $.inputType|private$.Name
+	if name == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("$.inputType|private$.Name must be provided to Apply")
+	}
+
+	result = &$.resultType|raw${}
+	err = c.client.Patch($.ApplyPatchType|raw$).
+		$if .namespaced$Namespace(c.ns).$end$
+		Resource("$.type|resource$").
+		Name(*name).
+		SubResource("status").
+		VersionedParams(&patchOpts, $.schemeParameterCodec|raw$).
+		Body(data).
+		Do(ctx).
+		Into(result)
+	return
+}
+`
diff --git a/examples/apiserver/openapi/zz_generated.openapi.go b/examples/apiserver/openapi/zz_generated.openapi.go
index 62213cd6..29e9a69b 100644
--- a/examples/apiserver/openapi/zz_generated.openapi.go
+++ b/examples/apiserver/openapi/zz_generated.openapi.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ func GetOpenAPIDefinitions(ref common.ReferenceCallback) map[string]common.OpenA
 		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.APIResource":                            schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_APIResource(ref),
 		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.APIResourceList":                        schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_APIResourceList(ref),
 		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.APIVersions":                            schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_APIVersions(ref),
+		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.ApplyOptions":                           schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_ApplyOptions(ref),
 		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.Condition":                              schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_Condition(ref),
 		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.CreateOptions":                          schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_CreateOptions(ref),
 		"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1.DeleteOptions":                          schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_DeleteOptions(ref),
@@ -433,6 +434,65 @@ func schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_APIVersions(ref common.ReferenceCallback) common.Op
 	}
 }
 
+func schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_ApplyOptions(ref common.ReferenceCallback) common.OpenAPIDefinition {
+	return common.OpenAPIDefinition{
+		Schema: spec.Schema{
+			SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+				Description: "ApplyOptions may be provided when applying an API object. FieldManager is required for apply requests. ApplyOptions is equivalent to PatchOptions. It is provided as a convenience with documentation that speaks specifically to how the options fields relate to apply.",
+				Type:        []string{"object"},
+				Properties: map[string]spec.Schema{
+					"kind": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "Kind is a string value representing the REST resource this object represents. Servers may infer this from the endpoint the client submits requests to. Cannot be updated. In CamelCase. More info: https://git.k8s.io/community/contributors/devel/sig-architecture/api-conventions.md#types-kinds",
+							Type:        []string{"string"},
+							Format:      "",
+						},
+					},
+					"apiVersion": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "APIVersion defines the versioned schema of this representation of an object. Servers should convert recognized schemas to the latest internal value, and may reject unrecognized values. More info: https://git.k8s.io/community/contributors/devel/sig-architecture/api-conventions.md#resources",
+							Type:        []string{"string"},
+							Format:      "",
+						},
+					},
+					"dryRun": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "When present, indicates that modifications should not be persisted. An invalid or unrecognized dryRun directive will result in an error response and no further processing of the request. Valid values are: - All: all dry run stages will be processed",
+							Type:        []string{"array"},
+							Items: &spec.SchemaOrArray{
+								Schema: &spec.Schema{
+									SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+										Default: "",
+										Type:    []string{"string"},
+										Format:  "",
+									},
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+					"force": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "Force is going to \"force\" Apply requests. It means user will re-acquire conflicting fields owned by other people.",
+							Default:     false,
+							Type:        []string{"boolean"},
+							Format:      "",
+						},
+					},
+					"fieldManager": {
+						SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+							Description: "fieldManager is a name associated with the actor or entity that is making these changes. The value must be less than or 128 characters long, and only contain printable characters, as defined by https://golang.org/pkg/unicode/#IsPrint. This field is required.",
+							Default:     "",
+							Type:        []string{"string"},
+							Format:      "",
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Required: []string{"force", "fieldManager"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
 func schema_pkg_apis_meta_v1_Condition(ref common.ReferenceCallback) common.OpenAPIDefinition {
 	return common.OpenAPIDefinition{
 		Schema: spec.Schema{