green light

noun

: authority or permission to proceed

green-light

ˈgrēn-ˌlīt 

transitive verb

Synonyms

• allowance
• authorization
• clearance
• concurrence
• consent
• granting
• leave
• license
• licence
• permission
• sanction
• sufferance
• warrant

Examples of green light in a Sentence

we were given the green light to use the town commons for our fund-raiser

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike the colorless aluminum ion, the chromium ion absorbs blue and green light when surrounded by the oxygen ions. —Daniel Freedman, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025

Netanyahu has long sought a green light for an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, something successive U.S. administrations have resisted. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025

Meme coins were some of the biggest winners after the U.S. presidential election, with some traders seeing it as a green light for a new crypto craze. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 3 Feb. 2025

Now everything just gets thrown online and stuff that would never have gotten a green light before can be great and be extremely successful. —Stuart Miller, Orange County Register, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the green traffic light which signals permission to proceed

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above