approve

verb

ap·prove | \ ə-ˈprüv

approved; approving

Definition of approve

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 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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about approve

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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

Arizona’s plan has broad support but hasn’t been approved by the Legislature, a factor that has made the negotiations on the drought contingency plan more complex. — Felicia Fonseca, The Seattle Times, "6 states backed Colorado River plan; Arizona faces deadline," 30 Jan. 2019 Another option is for the president to declare a national emergency and build the wall with money that Congress hasn’t approved. — Peter Nicholas, WSJ, "President Trump, After Shutdown Ends, Says ‘We Will Build the Wall’," 26 Jan. 2019 Earlier this week, the official China Securities Journal reported that an initial handful of games had been approved, citing the deputy director of the Communist Party’s propaganda unit. — Shannon Liao, The Verge, "China lifts video game ban but not for its biggest player," 29 Dec. 2018 While the ingredient has been approved by the FDA for skin-care use, Talakoub says overuse has actually shown to clog pores and exacerbate the appearance of acne and blackheads. — Talia Abbas, SELF, "How to Get Rid of Blackheads on Your Nose, Chin and Forehead," 28 Dec. 2018 But making the current standoff even more absurd is the fact that Congress actually has approved new spending, in prior legislation, for much of the government’s functions. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Why the blame game over the government shutdown is pointless," 21 Dec. 2018 The companies that have been approved to conduct the seismic testing are Ion GeoVentures, Spectrum Geo Inc, TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company, WesternGeco, and CGG. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Trump admin. approves seismic tests for Atlantic offshore oil drilling," 2 Dec. 2018 The family was told the wife would be approved soon. — Fox News, "Trump refugee policy leaves thousands stranded outside US," 7 Oct. 2018 Although some topical steroids have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use up to six months, generally speaking, experts warn that topical steroids should not be used for more than two weeks in a row. — Marci Robin, Allure, "The Best Non-Steroid Topical Treatments for Psoriasis, According to Dermatologists," 10 Sep. 2018

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.