sanction
noun
authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
had sanctioned
-
past perfectof sanction.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
To make matters worse, and to shed an even more unflattering light on the club's strategy and operation, it all came after hours after Everton had sanctioned striker Beto's £15.5m move to Fiorentina.
From BBC β Sep. 2, 2026
Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued that the government had sanctioned Venezuela for national security reasons, and that Maduro and his wife could be represented by court-appointed lawyers.
From The Wall Street Journal β Mar. 26, 2026
Gil Garcetti in 1993, they presented it as a chance to undo the injustice his predecessors had sanctioned two decades earlier.
From Los Angeles Times β Jun. 28, 2025
The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation had sanctioned races — not World Cups, but real races under real conditions — this fall when sliders had their long training stint at the Beijing track.
From Seattle Times β Jan. 10, 2022
What an embarrassment in her own backyard, as if she, Dede, had sanctioned all this.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
