green light

noun

: authority or permission to proceed

green-light

ˈgrēn-ˌlīt 

transitive verb

Synonyms of green light

• permission
• authorization
• consent
• granting
• sanction
• permit

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

Now, with a US green light for its civil nuclear ambitions, more uranium finds may surface. — semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Investigators say the 2019 McLaren accelerated from a green light before veering into the tree. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

But when freewheeling Fred Silverman took over the network a year later, the concept got a green light, with some minor adjustments. — Michael Callahan, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Just less than two years after Dan Schneider was given a green light on his Quiet on Set defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros Discovery and others, a trio of appeal judges has handed the former Nickelodeon producer a big defeat. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the green traffic light which signals permission to proceed

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for green light

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight