approve
Americanverb (used with object)
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approves,
present (3rd person singular)
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approved,
past participle, past
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approving
present participle
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to speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge favorably.
to approve the policies of the administration.
- Synonyms:
- esteem, appreciate
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to consent or agree to.
Father approved our plan to visit Chicago.
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to confirm or sanction formally; ratify.
The Senate promptly approved the bill.
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Obsolete.
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to demonstrate; show.
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to make good; attest.
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to prove by trial.
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to convict.
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verb (used without object)
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approves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
approved,
past participle, past
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approving
present participle
verb
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to consider fair, good, or right; commend (a person or thing)
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(tr) to authorize or sanction
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obsolete (tr) to demonstrate or prove by trial
verb
Synonym Usage
Approve, commend, praise mean to have, and usually to express, a favorable opinion. To approve is to have a very good opinion, expressed or not, of someone or something: He approved the new plan. To commend is to speak or write approvingly, often formally and publicly, to congratulate or honor for something done: to commend a worker for a job well done. To praise is to speak or write, often in glowing and emotional terms, about one or more persons, actions, plans, etc.: to praise someone's courage.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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approvednessnoun
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preapprovverb
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reapproveverb
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nonapprovedadjective
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self-approvedadjective
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self-approvingadjective
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unapprovedadjective
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unapprovingadjective
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well-approvedadjective
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approvedlyadverb
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approvinglyadverb
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unapprovinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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approvesimple
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approvessimple
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have approvedperfect
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has approvedperfect
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am approvingprogressive
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are approvingprogressive
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is approvingprogressive
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have been approvingperfect progressive
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has been approvingperfect progressive
Past
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approvedsimple
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had approvedperfect
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was approvingprogressive
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were approvingprogressive
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had been approvingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of approve
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English a(p)proven, from Anglo-French, Old French aprover, from Latin approbāre, equivalent to ap- ap- 1 + probāre “to prove ”
Explanation
When you take your new love to meet your parents, you hope that they approve of your choice in partners, but when your date starts eating with his hands at dinner, chances are pretty slim. Approve was first used like to mean "prove" or "show"––think, "The proof is in the pudding." Now, approve means to officially agree. You might need the principal to sign off on, or approve, any purchase of new materials for the classroom. Congress can also approve a bill or budget in this way. It’s important to remember that, like apple and appropriate, approve is spelled with a double “p.”
Vocabulary lists containing approve
List 7
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 21–August 27, 2021
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 1–October 7, 2022
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He said the judge had reviewed her finances and wouldn’t approve the lower bail.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Commissioners have “a statutory duty” under the state’s utilities code “to deny the transaction outright rather than approve a weaker deal,” the advocates argued in a recent filing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
If he withdraws by Monday, though, local Republican officials in his district could approve a new nominee.
From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2026
The executor or administrator of the estate reviews each claim, choosing to approve, deny, settle or dispute claims.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
I knew she did not approve of such distractions at the dining table.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
If the rest of the committee thinks it needs to raise rates to restrain inflation, that’s precisely what it will do, whether Warsh approves or not.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Measure gravity by the statute’s subject matter rather than the defendant’s conduct and proportionality review approves everything.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
The board approves the EDC’s annual budget but when it comes to approving actual projects, it largely functions as a final rubber stamp.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
“There is no other state that both has admission requirements that are laid out and then actually approves each and every course and its content,” Darling-Hammond said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
On average, the United States approves one million applicants annually as permanent residents.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
The Senate approved Blanche as lawmakers raced through a roughly 20-hour session before departing Washington for their summer recess.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
The FCC in February approved Charter’s proposed purchase of Cox’s residential cable, commercial fiber, cloud and information technology businesses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
"In addition, as part of the planning process for the approved quarry extension, the location of mines and associated infrastructure was carefully assessed."
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
In the farming community of Gilroy, Amazon’s project was approved with a single signature—by the town’s community-development director—because it met zoning criteria set 45 years ago for industrial development along a freeway.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
“The troll approved it. Took care of everything. But Reggie is unavailable on Monday and Wednesday mornings between nine and noon.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
It did so as part of an effort to pressure and trick the real people into approving its malicious code.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The vulnerable names are regulated utilities whose growth plans depend on regulators and voters approving higher household bills while the company builds for Big Tech.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Now it investigates police departments with excessive delays in approving gun permits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
The proposal, which will likely be finalized later this year, outlines a set of factors for employers to consider before approving investments.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
He clasps Peeta’s hand and gives him an approving slap on the shoulder.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
