disapprove
Americanverb (used with object)
-
disapproves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
disapproved,
past participle, past
-
disapproving
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
disapproves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
disapproved,
past participle, past
-
disapproving
present participle
verb
-
to consider wrong, bad, etc
-
(tr) to withhold approval from
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
disapprovesimple
-
disapprovessimple
-
have disapprovedperfect
-
has disapprovedperfect
-
am disapprovingprogressive
-
are disapprovingprogressive
-
is disapprovingprogressive
-
have been disapprovingperfect progressive
-
has been disapprovingperfect progressive
Past
-
disapprovedsimple
-
had disapprovedperfect
-
was disapprovingprogressive
-
were disapprovingprogressive
-
had been disapprovingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disapprove
Explanation
To disapprove is to object to something, or frown on it. Your parents, worried about head injuries, might disapprove of your joining the football team. You can say that you disapprove of violence in movies and video games, or that you disapprove of censorship of any kind. Almost everyone disapproves of things like drunk driving or being cruel to animals. In all of these examples, to disapprove is to believe something is wrong or bad. Originally, in the 15th century, the word meant "disprove," but by the mid-1600s the meaning shifted to "the reverse of approve."
Vocabulary lists containing disapprove
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:
The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows the single top issue this midterm for a plurality of Americans is the cost of living, and that 71% of respondents disapprove of Mr. Trump’s handling of that problem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Those who disapprove or try to ignore him have no effect.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Eighty-seven percent of Peruvians disapprove of the legislature, according to an Ipsos poll.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
It’s not as if voters can go to the voting booth and show that they disapprove of this.
From Slate ● May 7, 2026
The dictionary, quite reasonably, contained an entry in which people could learn about the word, including, of course, the fact that many speakers disapprove of it.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Mr Yang hastened to add, however, that he disapproves of the ban on dog meat farming.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2025
This was particularly interesting given that, conceptually, she disapproves of leaders like the world’s second-richest man.
From Slate ● May 12, 2023
“The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro’s playboy lifestyle,” Gerdts said.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 31, 2023
If they fail to submit or if the EPA disapproves of their plan, the agency must issue its own rule to protect downwind states.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2023
“First of all, Charlie and I aren’t looking to get married. Second of all, I know their family disapproves of me.”
From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea
They definitely disapproved of our government violating due process: “We’re a country built on laws.”
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
The 69-year-old disapproved of Smith’s handling of the issue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
In the survey, 60% of respondents disapproved of the military strikes on Iran, while 35% approved.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026
Overall, 43% of respondents said they disapproved of the strikes, 27% said they approved, and 29% said they were not sure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
The father disapproved of the stock market, but the payout from his death funded his son into it.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Note: Net approval is share approving minus disapproving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Worryingly for Lula, the Datafolha poll showed 51 percent of voters disapproving of his performance.
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
They can issue a resolution disapproving of the president’s conduct.
From Slate ● Mar. 2, 2026
What we call "fussiness" with a disapproving tone, is often anxiety and sensitivity, says consultant counselling psychologist Dr Ritika Suk Birah.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2025
“Hush. Get’n in grown folks’ business…” she says in a disapproving tone.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
