approve
verbEtymology From Middle English approuen, approven, from Old French aprouer; a- + a form apparently derived from the pro, prod, in Latin prōsum (“be useful or profitable”). Compare with improve.
approve
verbUS, UK /əˈpɹuːv/
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.
1
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.2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
2
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
Archaic To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
- He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour.1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section III:
- 1812–1818, Lord Byron, Child Harolde's Piligrimage 'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true.
3 more examples
- Opportunities to approve[…]worth.1844, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: Second Series:
- He had approved himself a great warrior.1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession Of James II:
- 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.1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 37:
4
Followed by "of" 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 parliament1758, Jonathan Swift, The History of the Four Last Years of the Queen:
3 more examples
- They had not approved of the deposition of James.1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession Of James II:
- Dad didn't approve of me, do you? I'm alive with something inside of me.1995, The Verve, A Northern Soul:
- Your mother wouldn't approve of how my mother raised me. But I do, I think I do. And you're an all-American boy2016, Mitski, Your Best American Girl:
5
Archaic, Usually, With a reflexive pronoun To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits of.
- The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God.a. 1729, John Rogers, The Duty and Advantageous of Trust in God:
- Synonyms
- agree with, approbate, approve, back, support, think much of
- Antonyms
- contradict, disapprove, oppose
- Derived terms
- approbation, approvable, approvably, approval, approved school, approvee, approvement, approver, disapprove, foreapprove, I approve this message, preapprove, reapprove, unapprove
- Related terms
- praise
- Hyponyms
- cheer, eulogise, glorify, proselytize