15 results for: approve

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ap·prove

Audio Help [uh-proov] Pronunciation Key verb, -proved, -prov·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge favorably: to approve the policies of the administration.

2.	to consent or agree to: Father approved our plan to visit Chicago.

3.	to confirm or sanction formally; ratify: The Senate promptly approved the bill.

Obsolete.

a.	to demonstrate; show.

b.	to make good; attest.

c.	to prove by trial.

d.	to convict.

–verb (used without object)

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

[Origin: 1300–50; ME a(p)proven < AF, OF aprover < L approbāre, equiv. to ap- ap-¹ + probāre to prove

]

—Related forms

ap·prov·ed·ly, adverb

ap·prov·ed·ness, noun

ap·prov·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. appreciate, esteem. 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 approv-ingly, 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. 2, 3. authorize, endorse, validate.

—Antonyms 2, 3. reject.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
approve

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ap·prove Audio Help   (ə-prōōv') Pronunciation Key
v.   ap·proved, ap·prov·ing, ap·proves

v.   tr.

To consider right or good; think or speak favorably of.
To consent to officially or formally; confirm or sanction: The Senate approved the treaty.
Obsolete To prove or attest.

v. intr.
To show, feel, or express approval: didn't approve of the decision.

[Middle English approven, from Old French aprover, from Latin approbāre : ad-, ad- + probāre, to test (from probus, good; see per¹ in Indo-European roots).]

ap·prov'a·ble adj., ap·prov'ing·ly adv.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to express a favorable opinion or to signify satisfaction or acceptance. Approve means to consider right or good, but it can also denote official consent: "The colonel or commanding officer approves the sentence of a regimental court-martial" (Charles James).
Endorse implies the public expression of support: The senator endorsed the candidate by issuing a press release.
Sanction usually implies official authorization: The privilege of voting is a right sanctioned by law.
Certify and accredit imply official approval based on compliance with requirements or standards: "The proper officers, comparing every article with its voucher, certified them to be right" (Benjamin Franklin). The board of education will accredit only institutions that have a sufficiently rigorous curriculum.
To ratify is to invest officially with legal authority: "Amendments . . . shall be valid . . . when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States" (U.S. Constitution, Article V).

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
approve

1340, "to attest (something) with authority," from O.Fr. aprover, from L. approbare "to assent to as good, regard as good," from ad- "to" + probare "to try, test something (to find if it is good)," from probus "honest, genuine" (see prove). The meaning extended c.1380 to "show (something) to be good," then to "assent to (something) as good" (1413), especially in ref. to authorities, parliaments, etc.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

approve
verb
1.	give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies" [ant: disapprove]
2.	judge to be right or commendable; think well of [ant: disapprove]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
approve1 [əˈpruːv] verb

(often with of) to be pleased with or think well of (a person, thing etc)
Example: I approve of your decision.

Arabic:	يَرْضى عَن، يَسْتَحْسِن
Chinese (Simplified):	满意
Chinese (Traditional):	滿意
Czech:	schvalovat
Danish:	godkende; bifalde
Dutch:	goedkeuren
Estonian:	heaks kiitma
Finnish:	hyväksyä
French:	approuver
German:	gutheißen
Greek:	επιδοκιμάζω
Hungarian:	helyesel
Icelandic:	líka vel, fallast á
Indonesian:	menyukai
Italian:	approvare

Japanese:	よいと思う
Korean:	찬성하다
Latvian:	atzinīgi novērtēt
Lithuanian:	pritarti
Norwegian:	godkjenne, bifalle
Polish:	aprobować
Portuguese (Brazil):	aprovar
Portuguese (Portugal):	aprovar
Romanian:	a fi de acord (cu)
Russian:	одобрять
Slovak:	schvaľovať
Slovenian:	odobravati
Spanish:	aprobar; tener un buen concepto de
Swedish:	gilla, uttrycka sympati för
Turkish:	uygun bulmak, onaylamak, beğenmek

approve2 [əˈpruːv] verb

to agree to (something)
Example: The committee approved the plan.

Arabic:	يُوافَق عَلى
Chinese (Simplified):	批准
Chinese (Traditional):	批准
Czech:	schválit
Danish:	godkende; bifalde
Dutch:	goedkeuren
Estonian:	heaks kiitma
Finnish:	hyväksyä
French:	approuver
German:	billigen
Greek:	εγκρίνω
Hungarian:	hozzájárul
Icelandic:	samþykkja
Indonesian:	menyetujui
Italian:	approvare

Japanese:	承認する
Korean:	인가하다
Latvian:	apstiprināt; piekrist
Lithuanian:	pritarti, aprobuoti
Norwegian:	godkjenne, samtykke i
Polish:	zezwalać na, akceptować
Portuguese (Brazil):	aprovar
Portuguese (Portugal):	aprovar
Romanian:	a aproba
Russian:	одобрять
Slovak:	schváliť
Slovenian:	potrditi
Spanish:	aprobar, aceptar
Swedish:	samtycka, godkänna
Turkish:	onaylamak

See also: approval, on approval

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ap·prove
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: ap·proved; ap·prov·ing
: to give formal or official sanction to : RATIFY <Congress approved the proposed budget>

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Ap`pro*ba"tion\, n. [L. approbatio: cf. F. approbation. See Approve to prove.]

1. Proof; attestation. [Obs.] --Shak.

2. The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval; sanction; commendation.

Many . . . joined in a loud hum of approbation. --Macaulay.

The silent approbation of one's own breast. --Melmoth.

Animals . . . love approbation or praise. --Darwin.

3. Probation or novitiate. [Obs.]

This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her approbation. --Shak.

Syn: Approval; liking; sanction; consent; concurrence.

Usage: Approbation, Approval. Approbation and approval have the same general meaning, assenting to or declaring as good, sanction, commendation; but approbation is stronger and more positive. "We may be anxious for the approbation of our friends; but we should be still more anxious for the approval of our own consciences." "He who is desirous to obtain universal approbation will learn a good lesson from the fable of the old man and his ass." "The work has been examined by several excellent judges, who have expressed their unqualified approval of its plan and execution."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Ap*proof"\, n. [See Approve, and Proof.]

1. Trial; proof. [Archaic] --Shak.

2. Approval; commendation. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Ap*prove"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Approved; p. pr. & vb. n. Approving.] [OE. aproven, appreven, to prove, OF. aprover, F. approuver, to approve, fr. L. approbare; ad + probare to esteem as good, approve, prove. See Prove, and cf. Approbate.]

1. To show to be real or true; to prove. [Obs.]

Wouldst thou approve thy constancy? Approve First thy obedience. --Milton.

2. To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.

Opportunities to approve . . . worth. --Emerson.

He had approved himself a great warrior. --Macaulay.

'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true. --Byron.

His account . . . approves him a man of thought. --Parkman.

3. To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial.

4. To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of; as, we approve the measured of the administration.

5. To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.

The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God. --Rogers.

Note: This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of), is often followed by of.

They had not approved of the deposition of James. --Macaulay.

They approved of the political institutions. --W. Black.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Ap*prove"\ ([a^]p*pr[=oo]v"), v. t. [OF. aprouer; a (L. ad) + a form apparently derived fr. the pro, prod, in L. prodest it is useful or profitable, properly the preposition pro for. Cf. Improve.] (Eng. Law) To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; -- said esp. of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Ap*prov"er\, n. [See 2d Approve, v. t.] (Eng. Law) A bailiff or steward; an agent. [Obs.] --Jacobs.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Dis`ap*prove\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapproved; p. pr. & vb. n. Disapproving.] [Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. d['e]approuver. Cf. Disapprobation.]

1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others.

2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to sanction; as, the sentence of the court-martial was disapproved by the commander in chief.

Note: This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Approve

Im*prove"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Improved; p. pr. & vb. n. Improving.] [Pref. in- in + prove, in approve. See Approve, Prove.]

1. To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. --Donne.

I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead. --Denham.

2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means. --Shak.

We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. --Barrow.

A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved. --Addison.

The court seldom fails to improve the oppotunity. --Blackstone.

How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour. --I. Watts.

Those moments were diligently improved. --Gibbon.

True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion. --Washington.

3. To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; -- said with reference to what is bad. [R.]

We all have, I fear, . . . not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors. --Bp. Porteus.

Syn: To better; meliorate; ameliorate; advance; heighten; mend; correct; recify; amend; reform.

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