Meaning

(transitive) To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.
2. (transitive) To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.
3. (transitive, archaic) To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
4. (intransitive, followed by "of") To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.
5. (archaic, transitive, usually with a reflexive pronoun) To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits of.
6. (transitive, law, English law) 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.

Example Sentences

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.

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

1812–1818, Lord Byron, Child Harolde's Piligrimage 'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true.

He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour.

Opportunities to approve[…]worth.

He had approved himself a great warrior.

Sore against our will did we of Witchland join with the Demons in that war, foreseeing (as hath been bloodily approved) that the issue must be but the puffing up of the Demons, who desire no other thing than to be lords and tyrants of all the world.

Word Forms

• approves
• approving
• approved
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• approve
• approvest
• approvedst
• approveth
• -
• approven

Synonyms for approve

Antonyms for approve

Related Words

When Should You Use Approve?

Use approve when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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