Bar an apprentice always uses (5)
I believe the answer is:
lever
'bar' is the definition.
(lever is a kind of bar)
'an apprentice always uses' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'apprentice' could be 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car) and 'l' is found in the answer.
'always' could be 'ever' (synonyms) and 'ever' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lever that I've seen before include "Rod" , "Revel in moving bar" , "Lifting bar pivoted on a fulcrum" , "Prise using bar" , "Heavy bar" .)