approve
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge favorably.
to approve the policies of the administration.
- Synonyms:
- esteem, appreciate
-
to consent or agree to.
Father approved our plan to visit Chicago.
-
to confirm or sanction formally; ratify.
The Senate promptly approved the bill.
-
Obsolete.
-
to demonstrate; show.
-
to make good; attest.
-
to prove by trial.
-
to convict.
-
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to consider fair, good, or right; commend (a person or thing)
-
(tr) to authorize or sanction
-
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
-
approvednessnoun
-
preapprovverb
-
reapproveverb
-
nonapprovedadjective
-
self-approvedadjective
-
self-approvingadjective
-
unapprovedadjective
-
unapprovingadjective
-
well-approvedadjective
-
approvedlyadverb
-
approvinglyadverb
-
unapprovinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
approvesimple
-
approvessimple
-
have approvedperfect
-
has approvedperfect
-
am approvingprogressive
-
are approvingprogressive
-
is approvingprogressive
-
have been approvingperfect progressive
-
has been approvingperfect progressive
Past
-
approvedsimple
-
had approvedperfect
-
was approvingprogressive
-
were approvingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 21–August 27, 2021
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 1–October 7, 2022
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 president's popularity remains near record lows in a new Economist/YouGov survey, with 36 percent of Americans saying they approve of his performance as president.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Why would they approve me for such a low credit limit when we have relatively little debt and excellent credit?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
If regulators approve those increases, it would be the second year in a row that premiums rose by double digits.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
He has said previously that he will hold off on making a decision about whether to approve Blanche until after the hearing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
In Washington, Eisenhower turned to a vital question: Should he continue to approve U-2 flights over Soviet territory in the early months of 1960?
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
The owners of the Jackdaw gas platform in the North Sea say it is "hyper critical" that the UK government approves production to avoid the risk of domestic supply shortages this winter.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
The board approves state education policy and curriculum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
“As a matter of federal law, Monsanto legally must use a label without a cancer warning unless and until EPA approves or requires a change.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Your children do not own the assets directly, and it’s basically treated as income/pocket money for them to spend in ways that the trustee approves.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
He approves for now, but he wants to make sure that I'm happy.
From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi
She applied for her school to participate in Florida’s voucher-like program as a tutoring service and was approved.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
Infantino wrote: "You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was impressively demonstrated this summer."
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Along with voting in favor of the popular BPC-157, the committee also approved TB-500.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
By a vote of 144 in favor, 10 against, and 13 abstentions, the assembly approved the renewal, beginning October 12, 2026, as proposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Once your background check gets approved, you receive your interview notice in the mail.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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
But the show doesn’t start until the 79-year-old De Shields nattily flips his jacket open, to the approving roar of the audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 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
American regulators have taken a tough stance on approving licences for new products such as vapes, delaying launches.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 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.
