approve
American Heritage Dictionary:
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ap·prove
(ə-prūv') 
v., -proved, -prov·ing, -proves. v.tr.
To show, feel, or express approval: didn't approve of the decision.
approvingly ap·prov'ing·ly adv.
v., -proved, -prov·ing, -proves. v.tr.
- To consider right or good; think or speak favorably of.
- To consent to officially or formally; confirm or sanction: The Senate approved the treaty.
- Obsolete. To prove or attest.
To show, feel, or express approval: didn't approve of the decision.
[Middle English approven, from Old French aprover, from Latin approbāre : ad-, ad- + probāre, to test (from probus, good).]
approvable ap·prov'a·ble adj.approvingly ap·prov'ing·ly adv.
SYNONYMS approve, endorse, sanction, certify, accredit, ratify. These verbs mean to express a favorable opinion or to signify satisfaction or acceptance. Approve means to consider right or good, but it can also denote official consent: "The colonel or commanding officer approves the sentence of a regimental court-martial" (Charles James). Endorse implies the public expression of support: The senator endorsed the candidate by issuing a press release. Sanction usually implies official authorization: The privilege of voting is a right sanctioned by law. Certify and accredit imply official approval based on compliance with requirements or standards: "The proper officers, comparing every article with its voucher, certified them to be right" (Benjamin Franklin). The board of education will accredit only institutions that have a sufficiently rigorous curriculum. To ratify is to invest officially with legal authority: "Amendments . . . shall be valid . . . when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States" (U.S. Constitution, Article V).
Roget's Thesaurus:
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approve
verb
- To be favorably disposed toward: countenance, favor, hold with. Informal go for. Idioms: take kindly to. See praise/blame.
- To give one's consent to: allow, approbate, authorize, consent, endorse, let, permit, sanction. Informal OK. See allow/prevent.
- To accept officially: adopt, affirm, confirm, pass, ratify, sanction. See accept/reject, law.
Antonyms by Answers.com:
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approve
v
Definition: agree something is good
Antonyms: disagree, disapprove
v
Definition: allow, authorize
Antonyms: disallow, disapprove, invalidate, oppose, refuse, reject
Word Tutor:
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approve
IN BRIEF: To give one's consent.
His parents did not approve of his behavior.
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McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Aviation:
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approved
In air traffic phraseology, it means permission for the proposed action is granted.
Random House Word Menu:
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categories related to 'approve'
- Approval, Respect, and Recognition - approve: (vb) express favorable opinion; give formal consent
Translations:
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Approve
Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - godkende, synes om, bifalde
v. intr. - billige
idioms:
- approved school statsungdomshjem
Nederlands (Dutch)
goedkeuren, aanbevelen, zich laten zien als
Français (French)
v. tr. - approuver, ratifier, homologuer, agréer (une demande)
v. intr. - apprécier qn/qch
idioms:
- approved school (GB) maison de correction (arch)
Deutsch (German)
v. - billigen, genehmigen, loben
idioms:
- approved school Erziehungsheim, Besserungsanstalt
Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - εγκρίνω, επιδοκιμάζω, επικροτώ
idioms:
- approved school αναμορφωτήριο
idioms:
- approve of acconsentire a
- approved school riformatorio
Português (Portuguese)
v. - aprovar
idioms:
- approve of opinião (f) favorável
- approved school escola (f) aprovada
idioms:
- approve of одобрять что-либо
- approved school интернат для несовершеннолетних правонарушителей
Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - aprobar, probar, demostrar
v. intr. - aprobar, hallar de su gusto o agrado
idioms:
- approved school reformatorio
Svenska (Swedish)
v. - godkänna, bifalla, tillstyrka
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
赞成, 同意, 批准, 赞许, 认可, 满意
idioms:
- approved school 感化院, 教养院, 工读学校
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 贊成, 同意, 批准, 贊許, 認可
v. intr. - 滿意, 贊成
idioms:
- approved school 感化院, 教養院, 工讀學校
한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 을 승인하다, 을 증명하다
v. intr. - 승인하다
日本語 (Japanese)
v. - よいと認める, 賛成する, 承認する, 認可する
idioms:
- approve of 気に入る, 肯認する
العربيه (Arabic)
(فعل) يوافق على, يستحسن, يصدق على
עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - אישר, הסכים
v. intr. - אישר, הסכים, הביע דיעה חיובית
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Copyrights:
American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Roget's Thesaurus
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Tutor
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McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Aviation
An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation.. Copyright © 2005 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Random House Word Menu
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