approve
Use Approve in a sentence
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.
4.
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 followed by of ): Mother didn't approve of him. The boss wouldn't approve of the plan. He said that he approved.
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Approve
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English a(p)proven < Anglo-French, Old French aprover < Latin approbāre, equivalent to ap- ap-1 + probāre to prove
1300–50; Middle English a(p)proven < Anglo-French, Old French aprover < Latin approbāre, equivalent to ap- ap-1 + probāre to prove
Related forms
ap·prov·ed·ly, adverb
ap·prov·ed·ness, noun
ap·prov·ing·ly, adverb
non·ap·proved, adjective
pre·ap·prove, 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
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.
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.
2, 3. reject.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To approve
Collins
World English Dictionary
approve1 (əˈpruːv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 1. | to consider fair, good, or right; commend (a person or thing) |
| 2. | (tr) to authorize or sanction |
| 3. | obsolete (tr) to demonstrate or prove by trial |
| [C14: from Old French aprover, from Latin approbāre to approve, from probāre to test, | |
| ap'provingly1 | |
| —adv | |
| approve2 (əˈpruːv) | |
| —vb | |
| (tr) law to improve or increase the value of (waste or common land), as by enclosure | |
| [C15: from Old French approuer to turn to advantage, from prou advantage] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
approve
mid-14c., "to attest (something) with authority," from O.Fr. aprover (Fr. approuver), 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 late 14c. to "show (something) to be good," then to "assent to (something) as good" (early 15c.), especially in ref. to authorities, parliaments, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
For none can express thee, though all should approve thee.
It could be some time before the lawmakers approve a new candidate since there is no majority party in the legislature.
He italicized, however, words and phrases of which he does not approve.
The league's board of governors must approve the sale of the team.
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