approve

verb

ap·​prove ə-ˈprüv 

approved; approving

transitive verb

1

: to have or express a favorable opinion of

couldn't approve such conduct

2

a

: to accept as satisfactory

hopes she will approve the date of the meeting

b

: to give formal or official sanction (see sanction entry 1 sense 4c) to : ratify

Congress approved the proposed budget.

3

obsolete : prove, attest

intransitive verb

: to take a favorable view

doesn't approve of fighting

Synonyms

• ratify
• confirm
• finalize
• endorse
• accept
• authorize

Choose the Right Synonym for approve

approve, endorse, sanction, accredit, certify mean to have or express a favorable opinion of.

approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

accredit and certify usually imply official endorsement attesting to conformity to set standards.

the board voted to accredit the college

must be certified to teach

Examples of approve in a Sentence

I don't care if all the other parents are letting their kids do it; I still don't approve.

The state has approved the building plans, so work on the new school can begin immediately.

Your supervisor must approve the report before it can be sent.

Recent Examples on the Web

By June, things had improved enough that the city council approved two more units, which were installed in October. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

The judge ordered Utah state lawmakers to revise the congressional map within 30 days using guidelines approved by voters in the 2018 ballot measure. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025

On education, 38% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of education, Gallup's survey says, including 41% of parents of children attending K-12 school. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025

Pamphlets, flyers and handbills unless approved by management. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French apruer, approver, from Latin approbare, from ad- + probare to prove — more at prove

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing approve

• pre-approve

Rhymes for approve

• disprove
• improve
• remove
• reprove
• disapprove
• groove
• move
• prove

Kids Definition

approve

verb

ap·​prove ə-ˈprüv 

approved; approving

1

: to think well of

2

: to accept as satisfactory

approvingly

-ˈprü-viŋ-lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

approve

transitive verb

ap·​prove

approved; approving

: to give formal or official sanction to : ratify

Congress approved the proposed budget