approve

[uh-proov]

verb (used with object)

approved, approving 

1. to speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge favorably.

   to approve the policies of the administration.

   Synonyms: esteem, appreciate

2. to consent or agree to.

   Father approved our plan to visit Chicago.

   Synonyms: permit, allow
   Antonyms: deny, veto, prohibit, outlaw, interdict, disallow

3. to confirm or sanction formally; ratify.

   The Senate promptly approved the bill.

   Synonyms: validate, sanction, endorse, confirm, authorize
   Antonyms: veto, prohibit, outlaw, interdict, disallow, deny

4. Obsolete.

   1. to demonstrate; show.

   2. to make good; attest.

   3. to prove by trial.

   4. to convict.

verb (used without object)

approved, approving 

1. to speak or consider favorably (sometimes followed byof: )

   Mother didn't approve of him.

   The boss wouldn't approve of the plan.

   He said that he approved.

approve

¹

/ əˈpruːv /

verb

1. to consider fair, good, or right; commend (a person or thing)

2. (tr) to authorize or sanction

3. obsolete,  (tr) to demonstrate or prove by trial

approve

²

/ əˈpruːv /

verb

1. (tr) law to improve or increase the value of (waste or common land), as by enclosure

Other Word Forms

• approvedly adverb
• approvedness noun
• approvingly adverb
• nonapproved adjective
• preapprov verb
• reapprove verb
• self-approved adjective
• self-approving adjective
• unapproved adjective
• unapproving adjective
• unapprovingly adverb
• well-approved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of approve¹

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 ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of approve¹

C14: from Old French aprover, from Latin approbāre to approve, from probāre to test, _prove

Origin of approve²

C15: from Old French approuer to turn to advantage, from prou advantage

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

At the end of September, Guineans approved a new constitution that both paved the way for the elections and also permitted Doumbouya to run for president.

Read more on Barron's

Even if a Blackwell chip is approved for China, questions remain about its viability.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If Washington and London approve it, the acquisition will solve a major headache for Russia—and in the process, vastly expand the scope of the 71-year-old commodity trader’s energy empire.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A legal challenge to the government's decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport has been filed at the High Court, campaigners have said.

Read more on BBC

The National Security Committee approved the amendment to the penal code, which will now be passed onto the parliament for its first reading.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• accept 
• advocate 
• agree 
• authorize 
• back 
• certify 
• confirm 
• endorse 
• establish 
• license 
• okay 
• permit 
• push for www.thesaurus.com
• ratify 
• recommend 
• sanction 
• sign 
• support 
• uphold