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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use approve in a sentence
No approving remarks for the growing gap between rich and poor.
In March 2013, the Senate passed a similar Hoeven amendment, 62-37, approving the Keystone pipeline.
Take me to the international court since I am guilty of approving a travel.
If one is seen, and seen in an approving light, one will be imitated.
You Can’t ‘Steal’ a Culture: In Defense of Cultural Appropriation | John McWhorter | July 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLewis criticized the Republican dominated Florida legislature for approving the new maps in a partisan manner.
Florida Has To Redraw Its Congressional Districts Because, Florida | Ben Jacobs | July 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Watch sat down gravely near it, and gave an approving sniff at intervals.
The Box-Car Children | Gertrude Chandler Warner"The art club, this morning," replied Mrs. Ford, her eyes approving the fair prettiness of her daughter.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle | Laura Lee Hope"You ought to be pleased," put in Aunt Maria, staring at the grave face of the young man with no approving expression.
Overland | John William De ForestTexas Smith looked on with an approving grin, and suggested, "Better shute the dam cuss."
Overland | John William De ForestBits of drawing caught his attention, a free, felicitous line here and there evoking an approving grunt.
The Woman Gives | Owen Johnson
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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