green light

¹ American  

noun

1. a green-colored traffic light used to signal drivers, pedestrians, etc., that they may proceed.

2. authorization; approval; permission.

   The railroad has been given the green light on the proposed fare increase.

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green-light ² American  

verb (used with object)

green-lighted, green-lit, green-lighting

1. to give permission to proceed; authorize.

   The renovation project was green-lighted by the board of directors.

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green light British  

noun

1. a signal to go, esp a green traffic light

2. permission to proceed with a project

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verb

1. to permit (a project, etc) to proceed

Example Sentences

They started quarantine in Houston last month and will continue that as they await the green light for the Artemis 2 lunar mission that's been plagued by technological difficulties and delays.

From Barron's

The BBC has spoken to several Ukrainian drone companies who say they have been approached by Gulf states for help, but have not yet been given the green light by the government in Kyiv.

From BBC

EU member states have already given their green light.

From Barron's

Less than two minutes later, the emergency vehicle en route to United 2384 requests permission to cross the same runway, via taxiway D. After a slight hesitation, the controller gives the green light.

From The Wall Street Journal

The outcome wasn’t statistically clean though, raising questions about whether the data will be sufficient to get a green light from regulators.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• approval
• assent
• blessing
• clearance
• consent
• go ahead
• permission
• seal of approval
• thumbs-up