Definition of APPROVE

approve

Verb

Verb Forms: approved, approving, approves

  • To officially agree to or accept as satisfactory.
  • give sanction to
    • "I approve of his educational policies"
  • judge to be right or commendable; think well of
  • To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.
  • To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.
  • To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
  • To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.
  • To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits 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.

Examples

  • Although we may disagree with it, we must nevertheless approve the sentence handed down by the court-martial.
  • Her mother never approves of any of her boyfriends. She thinks nobody is good enough for her little girl.
  • I do not approve of using a word finder, but I’ll allow it this once.
  • We approve the measure of the administration, for it is an excellent decision.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English aproven, appreoven, appreven, apreven, borrowed from Old French aprover, approver, approuvir, appreuver (“to approve”), from Latin approbō, from ad + probō (“to esteem as good, approve, prove”). Doublet of approbate. By surface analysis, ad- + prove.

Synonyms

O.K., okay, sanction, agree with, approbate, approve, back, cheer, support, think much of

Scrabble Score: 14

approve: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
approve: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
approve: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

approve: valid Words With Friends Word