approve

verb

ap·​prove ə-ˈprüv How to pronounce approve (audio)
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
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
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.
Global interest in the technology is accelerating as Italy has approved a demo line between Venice and Padua. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 Favorability sank 22 percentage points from August 2020, when 70% of respondents approved of the court. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025 Get a trademark approved today. Chris Branch, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Under the terms of the new agreement — filed in July and approved by the Iowa State Board of Appeals on Tuesday, per the Register — the state will pay $85,000 to the plaintiffs to settle the case without admitting wrongdoing. Samantha Riedel, Them., 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for approve

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of approve was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Approve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approve. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

approve

verb
ap·​prove ə-ˈprüv How to pronounce approve (audio)
approved; approving
1
: to think well of
2
: to accept as satisfactory
approvingly adverb

Legal Definition

approve

transitive verb
ap·​prove
approved; approving
: to give formal or official sanction to : ratify
Congress approved the proposed budget

More from Merriam-Webster on approve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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