as in to permit
to give permission for or to approve of
as soon as the project is green-lighted, we'll schedule a planning meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something
we were given the green light to use the town commons for our fund-raiser
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of green-light
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Does the scoreboard really have a green light next to her name?
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Some businesses get folks to shine green lights at them to move them.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
Witnesses said a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 39-year-old man entered the intersection while a Honda Civic — driven by a 33-year-old San Diego man — was making a left turn on a green light onto Scripps Poway Parkway, Lopez said.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for green-light
Noun
Though this satellite imagery is in grayscale, lucky skywatchers on the ground would have likely seen curtains of green light with possible magentas and reds rippling overhead.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Does the scoreboard really have a green light next to her name?
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Some businesses get folks to shine green lights at them to move them.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
Witnesses said a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 39-year-old man entered the intersection while a Honda Civic — driven by a 33-year-old San Diego man — was making a left turn on a green light onto Scripps Poway Parkway, Lopez said.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for green-light
Recent Examples of Synonyms for green-light
Verb
-
But because of the area’s shortage of medical specialists, the New Mexico Human Services Department requested a waiver on his behalf that permitted him to resume practice and continue treating cancer patients as the only oncologist in all of Luna County, a remote rural region.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
More than 20 states currently have agreements with the agency permitting them to do so; Landry, the Louisiana Secretary of State, highlighted that SAVE had been used in her state’s ongoing investigation.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Whether Egg had Maekar’s permission to join Dunk’s travels as his squire is left more open ended in the novella itself.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Yet even building a temporary fence would require the permission of the village, as well as other bodies.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Over the match’s final 48 minutes, the Coastal defense allowed only two shots on goal.—
Clark Fahrenthold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The recall process allows any registered voter to initiate a recall for any reason, or none at all.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The mayor cautioned that military action taken without congressional authorization sets a dangerous precedent and urged efforts to restore stability through diplomacy rather than further violence.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
-
If the attacks are not concluded in 60 days, the administration will have to go back to Congress and say the operation is complete, or work with Congress for an authorization to use force or a formal declaration of war.—
Javed Ali,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Currently, 39 states have average prices below the $3-per-gallon threshold.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Every city has a notorious nightclub or bar worth visiting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The committee approved the East Village Green item 3-0 as part of the consent agenda, meaning it was considered routine and grouped alongside other items for approval with minimal discussion.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
California prohibits online platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without parental consent.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Among these benefits was the granting of an American Express Centurion cards to him and his wife.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The last large-scale granting of legal status took place almost 21 years ago, under the government of José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, which processed more than 576,000 applications.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The deal was meant to free the Iranian economy from years of crippling sanctions in return for limits on Iran’s nuclear program, notably its enrichment of uranium.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s subsequent campaign of maximum pressure, including the imposition of fifteen hundred new economic sanctions on Iran and its business partners, led Tehran to respond with its own maximum pressure.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Green-light.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/green-light. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
