approve

present singular third person approves · participle present approving · participle past approved · past approved · first person past singular approved · archaic present second person singular approvest · past second person singular approved · archaic past second person singular approvedst · present singular third person approves · archaic present singular third person approveth · past singular third person approved · past plural approved · past subjunctive approved · participle present approving · participle past approved · archaic participle past approven

1. transitiveTo 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.

   1 more example

   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. transitiveTo 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. archaictransitiveTo make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.

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

   4 more examples

   He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour.

   1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section III

   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. intransitiveTo 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.

   4 more examples

   Their address was in the most dutiful manner, approving of what her majesty had done toward a peace, and dissolve her parliament

   1758, Jonathan Swift, The History of the Four Last Years of the Queen

   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 boy

   2016, Mitski, Your Best American Girl

   Synonyms: cheer

5. archaictransitiveusuallyTo 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

present singular third person approves · participle present approving · participle past approved · past approved

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