approve
verb
ap·prove ə-ˈprüv 
approved; approving
transitive verb
1
: to have or express a favorable opinion of
couldn't approve such conduct
2
a
: 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
- accredit
- approbate
- authorize
- clear
- confirm
- finalize
- formalize
- homologate
- OK
- okay
- ratify
- sanction
- warrant
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Though appeals of that decision are likely, the law would be trumped if voters approve the amendment in the fall election. 
Joey Cappelletti, Sara Burnett And Ed White, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2022 If voters approve the measure in 2024, the City Council will have to decide in future budget meetings whether to finance costs on a yearly basis as the tax revenue is collected or by bonding to collect more money up front for capital improvements. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 If voters approve an $85 million bond this fall, with $27 million going to Glendale Regional Park, the whole thing would be built faster and in fewer phases. Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 If voters approve, City Council would be given the ability to raise the current millage of .6 mills to 2.0 mills, if and when necessary. cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022 The most recent CBS News Battleground Tracker poll found 72%of Black voters approve of the job the president is doing. Ed O'keefe, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2022 An attempt to insert an opt-out provision for communities failed, meaning that if voters approve the millage, taxpayers across the county will fund it, unlike the current system that supports SMART. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 11 Aug. 2022 That means the Legislature cannot create a lottery unless voters approve a constitutional amendment. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 31 July 2022 South Florida school districts want voters to approve a tax for teacher pay and security, but they aren’t legally allowed to say that. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 30 July 2022 See More
Joey Cappelletti, Sara Burnett And Ed White, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2022 If voters approve the measure in 2024, the City Council will have to decide in future budget meetings whether to finance costs on a yearly basis as the tax revenue is collected or by bonding to collect more money up front for capital improvements. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 If voters approve an $85 million bond this fall, with $27 million going to Glendale Regional Park, the whole thing would be built faster and in fewer phases. Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 If voters approve, City Council would be given the ability to raise the current millage of .6 mills to 2.0 mills, if and when necessary. cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022 The most recent CBS News Battleground Tracker poll found 72%of Black voters approve of the job the president is doing. Ed O'keefe, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2022 An attempt to insert an opt-out provision for communities failed, meaning that if voters approve the millage, taxpayers across the county will fund it, unlike the current system that supports SMART. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 11 Aug. 2022 That means the Legislature cannot create a lottery unless voters approve a constitutional amendment. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 31 July 2022 South Florida school districts want voters to approve a tax for teacher pay and security, but they aren’t legally allowed to say that. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 30 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French apruer, approver, from Latin approbare, from ad- + probare to prove — more at prove
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3
Phrases Containing approve
Kids Definition
approve
verb
ap·prove ə-ˈprüv
approved; approving
1
: to think of as good
I don't approve of the way those children behave.
2
: to accept as satisfactory
The school committee approved the new curriculum.
Legal Definition
approve
transitive verb
ap·prove
approved; approving
: to give formal or official sanction to : ratify
Congress approved the proposed budget
approved 1 of 2
adjective
as in sanctioned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sanctioned
- official
- conclusive
- correct
- decisive
- accurate
- comprehensive
- authoritative
- classical
- definitive
- complete
- exhaustive
- classic
- thorough
- magisterial
approved
2 of 2verb
as in ratified
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site Synonyms & Similar Words
- ratified
- confirmed
- finalized
- endorsed
- accepted
- authorized
- sanctioned
- signed
- acknowledged
- accredited
- formalized
- okayed
- homologated
- warranted
- cleared
- approbated
- affirmed
- certified
- validated
- blessed
- passed
- permitted
- initialed
- licensed
- reapproved
- enabled
- allowed
- legalized
- canonized
- sanctified
- indorsed
- initialled
- OK'd
- rubber-stamped
- licenced
- signed off (on)
- blest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejected
- denied
- disapproved
- vetoed
- disallowed
- prohibited
- declined
- banned
- proscribed
- forbade
- enjoined
- ignored
- negatived
- refused
- disregarded
- neglected
- interdicted
- overlooked
- turned down
- forbad
- illegalized
- rebutted
- spurned
- rebuffed