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)
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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:
Her resignation comes as Paramount is waiting for a federal judge to approve a settlement agreement that would allow Paramount to finalize its $111-billion purchase of Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Attendees cheered the arrival of “dots” – OpenAI's version of AI agents which will run continuously and ask users to approve sensitive actions.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
Boeing Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg has said recently that he expects regulators to soon approve the MAX 10.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
The FDA often accounts for the opinions of its advisers before deciding whether to approve a product like the Galleri test but is not required to do so.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
“You seem rather confident that the shade of Edward Ashton will approve your marriage plans, Admiral.”
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
And the convention approves this unanimously without noted debate because it’s so freaking obvious, right?
From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026
The emergency application comes one week after an appeals court ordered construction to stop until Congress approves, upholding a ruling won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued the administration last year.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
If the full council approves the measure, the city’s Department of Transportation will have 30 days to report back with recommendations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Instead, the unusual move would leave Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti residing in the country without a valid visa, which the U.S. will restore if Brazil approves Perez, the official said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
“My present husband, Colonel Blood, not only approves of this charity, but co-operates in it. I esteem it one of the most virtuous acts of my life.”
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Prisoners released early can immediately be returned to prison if they breach the terms of their licence, including by committing another crime, contacting a victim or living at an address not approved by authorities.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Regeneron Chief Executive Leonard S. Schleifer said the renewed alliance would allow the companies to expand the kind of work that their collaboration on Dupixent—a blockbuster medicine approved for several conditions—has achieved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Quan said this was another marginal change, noting that under Charter Amendment ER, approved by voters in 2024, the ethics commission can impose fines of up to $15,000.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Johnson said the issue will likely have to be decided by the Supreme Court, which approved Vought’s rescissions in 2025 because they pertained to national security.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
“Pin it round your neck, and then it will be useful,” said Laurie, looking down at the little blue boots, which he evidently approved of.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
California’s landmark environmental law, known as CEQA, requires state and local agencies to consider the environmental effects of many proposed projects before approving them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
For banks with massive balance sheets such as JPMorgan, private-credit firms can present an opportunity to expand the credit box, approving people with lower credit scores or other characteristics that the bank would normally reject.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
MPs have supported the government's proposals by approving amendments to the Representation of the People Bill.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
There’s a new athletic director, a new coach and new policies on transfers, with Kasek approving all transfer paperwork.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
To her voluntary communications Emma could get no more approving reply, than,
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
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.
