Definition of approve
approved
;approving
transitive verb
1 : to have or express a favorable opinion of couldn't approve such conduct
2a : to accept as satisfactory hopes she will approve the date of the meetingb : to give formal or official sanction (see 1sanction 4c) to : ratify Congress approved the proposed budget.
intransitive verb
: to take a favorable view doesn't approve of fighting
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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 of approve from the Web
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The Worker’s Party scheduled a series of protests against Silva and the unpopular reform of labor laws approved last week by President Michel Temer.
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That change will happen once the Federal Communications Commission approves the sale, something NKU officials expect to happen in August or September.
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However, the spokeswoman said Hickey's findings and the governor's response cannot be made public until they have been approved by the state's Executive Ethics Commission, which is scheduled to meet behind closed doors on July 26.
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Then, on Wednesday, word broke that the Trump White House itself would intervene to get the visas approved.
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If approved, a new ordinance will enable county officials to cite and fine property owners for standing water, including in bromeliads.
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Hill and colleagues treated 48 transplant patients with tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis that blocks the IL-6 receptor on cell surfaces.
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Committees in both the House and Senate have already approved the user fees.
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The permit (applied for by production company Bright Road Productions) that was approved allowed them to film on the boardwalk and the beach area, city officials told the APP.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'approve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of approve
Middle English, from Anglo-French apruer, approver, from Latin approbare, from ad- + probare to prove — more at prove
Synonym Discussion of approve
APPROVE Defined for English Language Learners
approve
playDefinition of approve for English Language Learners
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: to believe that something or someone is good or acceptable
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: to officially accept (an idea, action, plan, etc.)
APPROVE Defined for Kids
approve
playDefinition of approve for Students
approved
;approving
1 : to think of as good I don't approve of the way those children behave.
2 : to accept as satisfactory The school committee approved the new curriculum.
Law Dictionary
approve
Legal Definition of approve
approved
approving
: to give formal or official sanction to : ratify Congress approved the proposed budget
Learn More about approve
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See words that rhyme with approve Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for approve Spanish Central: Translation of approve Nglish: Translation of approve for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of approve for Arabic speakers
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