a green-colored traffic light used to signal drivers, pedestrians, etc., that they may proceed.
authorization; approval; permission.
The railroad has been given the green light on the proposed fare increase.
a signal to go, esp a green traffic light
permission to proceed with a project
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Alongside yesterday's softer inflation figures and the tentative agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, this gives the Bank of England the final green light to vote for a hold this afternoon."
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
By the spring of 2025, senior DOJ officials had given the green light to proceed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
Rogers: Hopefully, they give us the green light.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
“A cool print may be the green light bulls need to keep chasing new highs,” he added.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
They were caught in the green light, curved around my legs staring at the standing form, ears cocked and heads turned sideways while they studied it.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
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.
