green light

noun

: authority or permission to proceed
green-light transitive verb

Examples of green light in a Sentence

we were given the green light to use the town commons for our fund-raiser
Recent Examples on the Web On September 14, Upside announced plans to build a 187,000-square-foot facility in Glenview, Illinois, that will initially be devoted to creating nugget-like ground-chicken products—a process for which Upside has yet to receive a green light from regulators. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2023 But after a sweep of the King Street location to ensure the safety of fest-goers, the rap artist and his entourage was completed, the TIFF gala screening received a green light to go ahead. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2023 But after a brief fling with Ethan, Brittan returned to James’s bed, and the two earned a green light (and kiss) from Lana on their romantic final date. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2023 On Thursday around 10 p.m., the Cruise vehicle had a green light, entered an intersection, and was hit by the emergency vehicle responding to a call, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, based on tweets from Cruise. Time, 19 Aug. 2023 This change also boosts your aesthetic prowess, so consider this the cosmic green light to make a few décor changes under your own roof. Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023 To achieve this, the brand uses a solid disc of Super-LumiNova that’s crisp white in the day and emits a bright green light in the dark. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2023 In contrast, Reagan’s crushing of the PATCO strike gave employers a green light to permanently replace striking workers in situations in which doing that was legal. Jasmine Kerrissey, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2023 Scientists who back the IAEA’s green light note that facilities worldwide have carried out such releases, which are within regulatory standards. Amudalat Ajasa, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'green light.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from the green traffic light which signals permission to proceed

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of green light was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near green light

Cite this Entry

“Green light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20light. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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