Dictionary

approve en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio
• /əˈpɹuːv/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• ə-pro͞ovʹ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *probʰHwós Proto-Italic *proβwos Proto-Italic *proβos Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Proto-Italic *proβāō Latin probō Latin approbāreder. Old French aproverbor. Middle English aproven English approve 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.

Meanings

1. (transitive) 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. (transitive) 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, transitive) To 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.
   • He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour. 1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section III:
   • 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:
   • 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:
4. (followed by "of", intransitive) To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • Her mother never approves of any of her boyfriends. She thinks nobody is good enough for her little girl.
   • Dad didn't approve of me, do you? I'm alive with something inside of me. 1995, The Verve, A Northern Soul:
   • They had not approved of the deposition of James. 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession Of James II:
5. (archaic, transitive, 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:

Forms

Antonyms

disapprove · contradict · oppose

Deriveds

I approve this message · unapprove · foreapprove · approvee · reapprove · approvement · disapprove · approvable · approbation · approver · approval · preapprove · approved school · approvably

Hypernyms

admire · revere

Hyponyms

eulogise · proselytize · cheer · glorify

Relateds

praise

Synonyms

approbate · think much of · cheer · support · back · approve · agree with

Translations (197)

grc δοκιμάζω (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · tg таҳсин кардан (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · be адабра́ць (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · az təsdiq etmək (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ota تصویب ایتمك (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · bg утвърдя́ (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ja 賛成する (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · ro a aproba (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · vi phê duyệt (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · es aprobar (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · eo aprobi (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · tr onaylamak (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fi näyttää todeksi ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · hy ապացուցել ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · cs schválit (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · cmn 批准 (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · de billigen (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · mk одобри (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ka სანქციონირება (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · cy cymeradwyo (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ar اِسْتَحَسَنَ (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sq miratoj (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · de billigen (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · pt aprovar (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ru одо́брить (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · hu engedélyez (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · nl goedkeuren (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · uk схвали́ти (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fi hyväksyä (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · sh одобра́вати (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sh odòbriti (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · be адабра́ць (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · nl goedkeuren ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · et heaks kiitma (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · mn зөвшөөрөх (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · pt aprovar (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · kk мақұлдау (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fr approuver (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · be ухваля́ць (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · tg тасдиқ кардан (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · th เห็นดี (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · fi osoittaa ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · es ver con buenos ojos (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · fi antaa suostumus (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · eu onetsi (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ota تصویب ایتمك (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · hu elfogad (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · grc ἐγκρίνω (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · uk схва́лювати (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · ca aprovar (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sl odobriti (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · th อนุมัติ (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ru доказа́ть ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · sh odobrávati (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · de gutheißen (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · la ratihabeo (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · da godkende (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sl odobriti (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · bg одобря́ (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · uk схвали́ти (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · hi अनुमोदन करना (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ru утвержда́ть (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ar وَافَقَ (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · la ratihabeo ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · cs schvalovat (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ru показа́ть ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · ka დამტკიცება (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ka მოწონება (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · uz maʻqullamoq (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · tg тасвиб кардан (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · uk схвали́ти (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ru одобря́ть (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · pl zaaprobować (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · az təsdiqləmək (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · de gutheißen (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · cmn 贊成 /赞成 (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · hu hozzájárul (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · cs schvalovat (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sv godkänna (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ru одо́брить (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ru относи́ться одобри́тельно (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · pl aprobować (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · it approvare (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · tg маъкул донистан (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · grc δοκιμάζω (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · yue 批准 (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fi hyväksyä (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · bg дока́звам ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · bg дока́жа ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · la consciscō (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sh одо̀брити (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ja 承認する (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · de genehmigen (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fi hyväksyä (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ru одобря́ть (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sk schváliť (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sv godkänna (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · be ухвалі́ць (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ko 승인하다 (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · nb godkjenne (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · cy cymeradwyo (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · la consciscō ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · ka სანქცირება (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sk schváliť (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · lt patvirtinti (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · pl zatwierdzić (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ka მოწონება (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ur تَوثِیق کَرنا (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fi vahvistaa (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · hu támogat (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · fr approuver (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · pl zatwierdzać (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · cmn 贊成 /赞成 (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · hu jóváhagy (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · nl instemmen met (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · ru одо́брить (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ar وَافَقَ (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · mn сайшаах (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · mk одобрува (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · lo ອະນຸມັດ (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · th ยอมรับ (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · ru дока́зывать ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · be ухваля́ць (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ar رَضِيَ (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ka დადასტურება (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · kk бекіту (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · hu helyesel (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sh одо̀брити (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · mi ohia (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · de bewilligen (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · pt aprovar (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · ar صَدَّقَ (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · mk одобри (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · fr approuver (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · pt sancionar (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ja 賛成する (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · uz maʼqul topmoq (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sh odòbriti (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · pt provar ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · uk схва́лювати (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · es aprobar (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · la ratihabeo (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sl odobravati (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · mk одобрува (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sl odobravati (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · fi suvaita (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · ru одобря́ть (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · km យល់ព្រម (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · pl pochwalać (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · be адо́брыць (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · be ухвалі́ць (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ko 찬성하다 (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · bg одобря́ (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sk schvaľovať (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · es sancionar (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · la approbō (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · lv apstiprināt (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ru утверди́ть (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sh одобра́вати (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · de billigen (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ar وَافَقَ (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · sk schvaľovať (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · fa تصویب کردن (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · la approbō (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · pl aprobować (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · bg одобря́вам (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · eu onetsi (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · uk затве́рдити (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · el εγκρίνω (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · da godkende (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · sh odobrávati (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · be адо́брыць (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · hy հաստատել (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ca aprovar (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · ota بگنمك (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · eo aprobi (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · uk затве́рджувати (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · nl goedkeuren (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · lt pritarti (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · uk схва́лювати (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · bg утвържда́вам (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · th เห็นด้วย (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · it approvare ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · ru пока́зывать ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · mi ohia (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · la ratihabeo (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · el εγκρίνω (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · el εγκρίνω (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · pl zaaprobować (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · nrf approuver (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · cs schválit (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of) · la scisco (to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance) · ky бекитүү (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · nb godkjenne (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · mi ohia ((archaic in English) to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically) · he אִשֵּׁר (to sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial) · bg одобря́вам (to regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of)

approve en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio
• /əˈpɹuːv/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• ə-pro͞ovʹ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. (English, transitive) 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.

Forms

Antonyms

disapprove · contradict · oppose

Hypernyms

admire · revere

Hyponyms

eulogise · proselytize · cheer · glorify

Relateds

praise

Synonyms

approbate · think much of · support · back · approve · agree with