authorize
Americanverb (used with object)
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authorizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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authorized,
past participle, past
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authorizing
present participle
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to give authority or official power to; empower.
to authorize an employee to sign purchase orders.
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to give authority for; formally sanction (an act or proceeding).
Congress authorized the new tax on tobacco.
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to establish by authority or usage.
an arrangement long authorized by etiquette books.
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to afford a ground for; warrant; justify.
verb
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to confer authority upon (someone to do something); empower
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to permit (someone to do or be something) with official sanction
a dealer authorized by a manufacturer to retail his products
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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authorizationnoun
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authorizernoun
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deauthorizeverb (used with object)
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misauthorizeverb (used with object)
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preauthorizeverb (used with object)
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reauthorizeverb (used with object)
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authorizableadjective
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self-authorizingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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authorizesimple
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authorizessimple
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have authorizedperfect
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has authorizedperfect
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am authorizingprogressive
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are authorizingprogressive
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is authorizingprogressive
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have been authorizingperfect progressive
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has been authorizingperfect progressive
Past
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authorizedsimple
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had authorizedperfect
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was authorizingprogressive
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were authorizingprogressive
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had been authorizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of authorize
1350–1400; earlier auctorize < Medieval Latin auctōrizāre; replacing Middle English autorisen < Middle French autoriser < Medieval Latin See author, -ize
Explanation
To authorize is to give official approval or clearance for something. Authorizing can also delegate power to someone. Authorities are people with power, and to authorize is to use or grant some of that power to another. A visa authorizes you to visit a specific country. A search warrant authorizes the police to search a house. A doctor's note authorizes someone to miss work or school. Also, authorizing can be a form of delegating powers or responsibilities. The president of a company could authorize a worker to make a particular decision. Authorizing officially allows something to happen.
Vocabulary lists containing authorize
Quartering Act (1765)
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 1–January 7, 2022
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Maryland Toleration Act (1649)
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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:
In addition to seeking guardianship, Klitschko also asked the courts to grant him the ability to “request and authorize law enforcement investigation into the recovery of Hayden’s property believed to have been misappropriated.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The union’s executive board is asking members to authorize an additional $3 million in spending in support of the measure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The sample is from JMSN’s song “Love Me,” who said on X that he did not authorize license of the song.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
He expects Micron could authorize a buyback program in the low-$20 billion range, though the company likely wouldn’t begin repurchasing stock before December.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
“I certainly didn’t authorize this, Professor!” said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly.
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
The Necessary and Proper Clause authorizes Congress to pass the laws agencies and officials in every branch of government need to carry out their duties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
By contrast, the Constitution explicitly authorizes Congress to establish federal agencies and define the scope of their mandate.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
Environmentalists legally challenged the new regulation, which authorizes provincial governments to redefine protected areas as a way to expand mining activity.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
They invoked a provision of the Clean Water Act that authorizes states to require additional permits on a case-by-case basis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026
It also says the Bishop of Jerusalem of the Arab Episcopal Church authorizes it.
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
Across the country, 21,800 multi-unit dwellings and 4,000 single-family homes were authorized in August, up 12.8% from the prior month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
He was allegedly caught on camera "near" the conference room multiple times but was not authorized to participate in meetings located there.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant authorized by a federal judge, according to the Associated Press and The Washington Post.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
Condon said a price hasn’t been set, but a real estate expert familiar with the property but not authorized to speak about it publicly said the office and retail portion is worth about $160 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
But Descartes and his authorized translator from Latin into French never write of la loy de nature.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Nvidia has made another big splash, with its board of directors authorizing another $150 billion in stock buybacks.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
The law authorizing the tax required the Department of Finance to make initial determinations about who is subject to it using information such as tax returns and property value assessments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
She said she was issuing an executive order authorizing “an independent evaluation of officer-involved deaths and severe injuries,” particularly those involving people in crisis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
The mosquito abatement district model has its roots in the early 20th century, and Utah was the third state to pass legislation authorizing the agencies.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
She begins to type rapidly on her keyboard, authorizing her decision.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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