approve

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To officially sanction

   To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.

   • Although we may disagree with it, we must nevertheless approve the sentence handed down by the court-martial.
   • It has jailed environmental activists and is planning to limit the power of judicial oversight by handing a state-approved body a monopoly over bringing environmental lawsuits.
2. 2

   To regard as good

   To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.

   • We approve the measure of the administration, for it is an excellent decision.
3. 3

   To make proof of

   To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.

   • He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour.
   • 1812–1818, Lord Byron, Child Harolde's Piligrimage 'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true.
   • Opportunities to approve[…]worth.
4. ›+ 3 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To consider worthy (to)

      To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.

      • Her mother never approves of any of her boyfriends. She thinks nobody is good enough for her little girl.
      • Their address was in the most dutiful manner, approving of what her majesty had done toward a peace, and dissolve her parliament
      • They had not approved of the deposition of James.
   2. 5

      To show to be worthy

      To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits of.

      • The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God.
   3. 6

      To make profit of

      To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit — said especially of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.

The neighborhood

• synonymagree with
• synonymapprobate
• synonymapprove
• synonymback
• synonymsupport
• synonymthink much of
• antonymcontradict
• antonymdisapprove
• antonymoppose
• neighborpraise
• neighboradmire
• neighborrevere
• neighborcheer
• neighboreulogise
• neighborglorify
• neighborproselytize