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

Meanwhile, in the Trafalgar Group's latest poll, conducted May 30 to June 1, 54 percent of voters approved, while 46 percent disapproved—a net approval rating of +8. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Since April, Chinese authorities have only approved about one-quarter of the hundreds of export license applications submitted, according to CLEPA. —John Liu, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

Since then, however, World Boxing, a new governing body formed in response to the concerns surrounding the IBA, was provisionally approved to oversee the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 June 2025

Separately, Bulgaria on Wednesday was approved to join the euro zone. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 5 June 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