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

• accredit
• approbate
• authorize
• clear
• confirm
• finalize
• formalize
• homologate
• OK
• okay
• ratify
• sanction
• warrant

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

The legislation approved Saturday did not condition the aid on negotiations. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2024

Last week, Sarasota approved a $7 million land purchase across from City Hall to build two 12-story towers with 192 workforce units, WFLA reported. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024

If the measure is approved, the state Legislature will request the governing body of the University of California to establish the programs. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024

Share [Findings] India’s Supreme Court approved the importation of Namibian cheetahs. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024

The package approved Tuesday includes $60 billion for Ukraine. —Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

But the House approved the measure overwhelmingly on Saturday, followed by a similarly lopsided vote in the Senate on Tuesday. —Greg Myre, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024

At the same time, the Cudahy School Board approved forming the Community Facility Advisory Committee to provide recommendations to address its excess facility space and districtwide facility repairs and maintenance. —Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024

Since the National Federation of High Schools officially approved the shot clock in 2021 and other states began implementing it in 2022-23, Colorado basketball coaches and fans have been pushing for the shot clock here. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2024

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

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