as in ratifies
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory
as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site
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Recent Examples of approves
The county will hold a series of public workshops and hearings on the budget throughout May and June before the Board of Supervisors approves a final budget in June.
—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
Major construction at the course is deferred until the NPS approves the plan.
—Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2026
Congress today took a big step toward passing the first Farm Bill since 2018 with the House approval of a package of bills that provides a safety net for the rural economy, approves public nutrition programs, and funds a suite of farm-country conservation practices.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
This claim will likely be a key question in any legal challenge if the Florida legislature approves new voting maps.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
That starts with retooling the permitting process that approves — or, more often, holds up — major power generation, mining and other critical infrastructure and defense-related projects.
—Tom Cotton, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2026
If the court approves the deal, payments will follow after that process wraps up.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Distributing the estate After debts and taxes are paid, the court reviews the estate’s final accounting and approves the plan for distributing assets to beneficiaries and heirs according to the will.
—Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Once the House approves the framework and the Senate Parliamentarian approves it, the two chambers can then move to pass the measure.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
Major construction at the course is deferred until the NPS approves the plan.
—Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2026
Congress today took a big step toward passing the first Farm Bill since 2018 with the House approval of a package of bills that provides a safety net for the rural economy, approves public nutrition programs, and funds a suite of farm-country conservation practices.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
This claim will likely be a key question in any legal challenge if the Florida legislature approves new voting maps.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
That starts with retooling the permitting process that approves — or, more often, holds up — major power generation, mining and other critical infrastructure and defense-related projects.
—Tom Cotton, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2026
If the court approves the deal, payments will follow after that process wraps up.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Distributing the estate After debts and taxes are paid, the court reviews the estate’s final accounting and approves the plan for distributing assets to beneficiaries and heirs according to the will.
—Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Once the House approves the framework and the Senate Parliamentarian approves it, the two chambers can then move to pass the measure.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approves
Verb
-
The school board is scheduled to vote on the agreement during its meeting on Tuesday, but the union urged an earlier vote, saying teachers could return Monday if the board ratifies the deal by then.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Others feel that the treaty effectively ratifies something that already exists.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Disruption is permanent, and AI is the divider The 2026 AlixPartners Disruption Index, polling executives across 11 countries and 10 industries confirms that disruption is now the operating baseline.—
Catherine Nekavand,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
Mayo Clinic Press confirms that anxiety produces real physical responses, including labored breathing, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Walke said that if the EPA finalizes the rollback now, the NRDC would plan to challenge it in court.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Recent deals in the shaky apartment market for Oakland might help shove property values lower in the coming weeks as the Alameda County Assessor’s Office finalizes its latest guesses for property values in its jurisdiction.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the two-drug regimen to end pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestational age; the World Health Organization endorses it up to 12 weeks.—
Mara Gordon,
NPR,
4 May 2026
-
Please don’t fall for this con — even if the Labor Department endorses and promotes it.—
Terry Savage,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Admission is free; the group accepts donations.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
6 May 2026
-
Cohen intends to become CEO of the post-merger company if eBay accepts the deal and completes it.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
But that law only authorizes tariffs in response to large and persistent balance-of-payments deficits.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
7 May 2026
-
Only when Congress authorizes it—and only when American lives face imminent danger, or our core national values are under existential threat.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approves. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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