definitions

approve

[ uh-proov ]
/ əˈpruv /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR approve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ap·proved, ap·prov·ing.

to speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge favorably: to approve the policies of the administration.
to consent or agree to: Father approved our plan to visit Chicago.
to confirm or sanction formally; ratify: The Senate promptly approved the bill.
Obsolete.
  1. to demonstrate; show.
  2. to make good; attest.
  3. to prove by trial.
  4. to convict.

verb (used without object), ap·proved, ap·prov·ing.

to speak or consider favorably (sometimes followed by of): Mother didn't approve of him. The boss wouldn't approve of the plan. He said that he approved.

RELATED WORDS

unwarranted, wrongful, unofficial, illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful, unjustified, illegitimate, pirated, crooked, dirty, shady, wildcat, no-no, unsanctioned

Nearby words

appropriacy, appropriate, appropriation, approvable, approval, approve, approved school, approved social worker, approver, approx., approximal

Origin of approve

1300–50; Middle English a(p)proven < Anglo-French, Old French aprover < Latin approbāre, equivalent to ap- ap-1 + probāre to prove

Related forms

Can be confused

approve endorse

Synonym study

1. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unapproved

British Dictionary definitions for unapproved (1 of 3)

unapproved

/ (ˌʌnəˈpruːvd) /

adjective

not having been given approval or sanction

British Dictionary definitions for unapproved (2 of 3)

approve

1
/ (əˈpruːv) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by of) to consider fair, good, or right; commend (a person or thing)
(tr) to authorize or sanction
(tr) obsolete to demonstrate or prove by trial

Derived Forms

approvingly, adverb

Word Origin for approve

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

British Dictionary definitions for unapproved (3 of 3)

approve

2
/ (əˈpruːv) /

verb

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

Word Origin for approve

C15: from Old French approuer to turn to advantage, from prou advantage
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012