approving

adjective

ap·​prov·​ing ə-ˈprü-viŋ How to pronounce approving (audio)
: showing approval or acceptance
an approving nod/glance/smile
He surveyed through the park railings the evidences of the town's opulence and luxury with an approving eye.Joseph Conrad
approvingly adverb
nodded approvingly
A number of media outlets have reported approvingly about two recent ads that show the efforts corporate America is making to court single women … Kellyanne Conway

Examples of approving in a Sentence

the play did not receive a single approving notice
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The agreement did not go through the regular state contracting process, which typically features the governor and two other members of the Board of Public Works publicly vetting and approving contracts about every two weeks. Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 19 Nov. 2024 With its double-layer construction, the Lassen provided our testers with enough wind protection to wear as an outer layer for sunny spring ski conditions, and garnered a few approving nods on the lodge deck after. Frederick Reimers, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024 Fully approving Elevidys on the basis of a negative trial moves the goal posts for a drug’s efficacy even beyond these two cases. Aaron S. Kesselheim, Washington Post, 22 July 2024 Lebanese citizens in large part remain wary of Hezbollah (and Iran), but almost all have been horrified by Israel’s war in Gaza, and some have become increasingly approving of Hezbollah’s fight against Israel. Maryclare Roche, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for approving 

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of approve

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of approving was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near approving

Cite this Entry

“Approving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approving. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on approving

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!