Library / English Dictionary

APPROVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Judge to be right or commendable; think well of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "approve" is one way to...):

evaluate; judge; pass judgment (form a critical opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "approve"):

rubberstamp (approve automatically)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

disapprove (consider bad or wrong)

Derivation:

approbation (official recognition or approval)

approbation (official approval)

approbative; approbatory (expressing or manifesting praise or approval)

approval (a feeling of liking something or someone good)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give sanction to

Example:

I approve of his educational policies

Synonyms:

approve; O.K.; okay; sanction

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "approve" is one way to...):

authorise; authorize; clear; pass (grant authorization or clearance for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "approve"):

sanction (give religious sanction to, such as through on oath)

visa (approve officially)

back; endorse; indorse; plump for; plunk for; support (be behind; approve of)

confirm (support a person for a position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

disapprove (deem wrong or inappropriate)

Derivation:

approbation (official recognition or approval)

approbative (expressing or manifesting praise or approval)

approval (the formal act of approving)

approver (an authority with power to approve)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He assumed an expression of gloomy intelligence (though I am persuaded he knew no more about the discussion than I did), and highly approved of the discretion that had been observed.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"Good boy! I'm glad he's gone," said Amy, with an approving smile.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I feel that in saying this I am doing what my dear one would have approved.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

His majesty approved of the proposal, and I took them up, one by one, in my hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper officers to exercise them.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He read them aloud, and Martin approved, worrying at the same time as to when Joe would take himself off.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware of your profession—one of which I by no means approve.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There’s no treatment currently approved for severe sepsis.

(Electroacupuncture Reduces Sepsis in Mice, NIH)

In order to be approved, the South Atlantic sanctuary needs 75% of the vote from member countries of the International Whaling Commission.

(Brazil to support South Atlantic whale sanctuary bid, Agência BRASIL)

An experimental drug may be approved by the FDA for use in one disease or condition but be considered investigational in other diseases or conditions.

(Experimental drug, NCI Dictionary)

The description of how a product was used that was not according to its approved use for.

(Explanation of Off Label Use, NCI Thesaurus)