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:
The rules say the Treasury secretary can approve or reject donors’ requests using “objective criteria,” such as cost, feasibility and conflicts with other federal laws.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Among other jobs, they approve or block proposed laws that have been received from the House.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
In an official statement, the department’s spokesperson said it “does not approve or deny the operation of microschools for any reason, including the qualifications of the owner/operator.”
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
If voters approve the measure, $7.5 billion in bonds would fund California scientific and medical research into diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and ALS.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The veterans continued to work at a furious pace to raise more funds and shepherd the project through the governmental agencies that still had to approve the design.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
The State Department vets applicants and approves sponsors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
What’s more, the public by and large approves of last term’s major decisions, according to a poll this month from Marquette Law School.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
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
“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
The stronger shots have four times the antigen and are approved for those 65 and older.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
This might lead Australians to think Adidas is associated with White Fox and has approved of the design, the documents claim.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The anti-parasitic drug is only approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat worm diseases.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
State utility commissions across the country have approved and permitted substantial amounts of electric transmission infrastructure in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
“The troll approved it. Took care of everything. But Reggie is unavailable on Monday and Wednesday mornings between nine and noon.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
An event staffer at one point shouted, “You need to have a ticket. If you are on the wait list, we will not be approving you.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Having said that, he would be an owner who does not stop at approving the appointment of a manager and stepping away.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
There are more than 100 items on the table but many deal with technical matters, like approving indicators to track progress on climate adaptation.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
In addition, the authority failed to comply with state law requiring it to consider the business need for travel before approving it, the report said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
“Good girl! You deserve to go, and I’m sure you will some day,” said Aunt March, with an approving pat on the head, as Amy picked up her ball for her.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
