approve
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.
to demonstrate; show.
to make good; attest.
to prove by trial.
to convict.
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.
Origin of approve
1synonym study For approve
Other words for approve
Opposites for approve
Other words from approve
- ap·prov·ed·ly, adverb
- ap·prov·ed·ness, noun
- ap·prov·ing·ly, adverb
- non·ap·proved, adjective
- pre·ap·prov, verb, pre·ap·proved, pre·ap·prov·ing.
- re·ap·prove, verb, re·ap·proved, re·ap·prov·ing.
- self-ap·proved, adjective
- self-ap·prov·ing, adjective
- un·ap·proved, adjective
- un·ap·prov·ing, adjective
- un·ap·prov·ing·ly, adverb
- well-ap·proved, adjective
Words that may be confused with approve
- approve , endorse
Words Nearby approve
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use approve in a sentence
What they say is, ‘We don’t approve of violence, but you know what?
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’ | Lloyd Grove | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe problem was that the FDA refused to approve any new ingredients for use in sunscreen, year after year.
Nazis, Sunscreen, and Sea Gull Eggs: Congress in 2014 Was Hella Productive | Ben Jacobs | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRamone, who turned to religion while trying to kick drugs, would probably approve (and laugh a little, too).
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings | Melissa Leon | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“The Commission did not instruct Mr. Wright to approve inaccurate wellbore completion reports,” according to the letter.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired. | David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen obeyed uncritically, it produces sentences like this: The board voted immediately to approve the casino.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With | Nick Romeo | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I have shown your account of your thrashing by steam, and Sir John Sinclair and Mr. —— very highly approve it.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickI don't approve of women giving such broad hints to us men folk.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieThose who approve of their polity countenance what is hostile to his government, and thus act as his enemies.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamIn reference to this, as well as to any other matter inculcated upon them, their consciences will either approve or condemn them.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamShe was a very nice girl; I wonder whether nurse would approve of her.
The Daisy Chain | Charlotte Yonge
British Dictionary definitions for approve (1 of 2)
/ (əˈpruːv) /
(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
Origin of approve
1Derived forms of approve
- approvingly, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for approve (2 of 2)
/ (əˈpruːv) /
(tr) law to improve or increase the value of (waste or common land), as by enclosure
Origin of approve
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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