INDEX:
1. to approve of something or someone
2. to strongly approve of something
3. to say that you approve of something or someone
4. when someone approves of something or someone
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ DISAPPROVE
to officially accept something : ↑ ACCEPT
words meaning it is right to do something : ↑ RIGHT
see also
↑ LIKE
↑ AGREE
↑ SUPPORT
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1. to approve of something or someone
▷ approve /əˈpruːv/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
▪ Don will only buy the motorcycle if his parents approve.
approve of
▪ I was surprised that Mom seemed to approve of Tracy’s new boyfriend.
▪ Bob doesn’t approve of alcohol.
▪ Forty percent of registered voters approved of Senator Campbell.
approve of (somebody) doing something
▪ Do you approve of doctors using human embryos for research?
▷ think something is right /ˌθɪŋk something ɪz ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase] spoken
to approve of something -- used especially when you are talking about something other people might not agree with :
▪ My mother made me get a part-time job when I was sixteen, and I think that’s right.
think it is right (for somebody) to do something
▪ The bank invests a lot of money in the tobacco industry: do you think it’s right for them to do that?
▪ He doesn’t think it’s right for someone so young to be learning about sex at school.
▷ agree with /əˈgriː wɪð/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
to approve of something such as a decision, a way of doing something, or a plan :
▪ Mr. Senator, do you agree with the court’s decision?
▪ I have never agreed with animal experimentation.
▷ believe in /bɪˈliːv ɪn, bəˈliːv ɪn/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
to approve of a type of behaviour or way of doing something, especially because you think there are important principles involved :
▪ Hilary doesn’t believe in sex before marriage.
believe in doing something
▪ We believe in letting everyone have the right to see their own medical records.
▷ condone /kənˈdəʊn/ [transitive verb]
to say or show that you approve of something that most people think is wrong :
▪ The state appears to condone police brutality.
▪ I’m not condoning his behaviour, but I can understand why he wanted revenge on his daughter’s attacker.
2. to strongly approve of something
▷ strongly/totally/wholeheartedly etc approve /ˌstrɒŋli əˈpruːvǁˌstrɔːŋ-/ [verb phrase]
▪ My son wants to leave school to concentrate on his acting career and I totally approve.
strongly/totally/wholeheartedly etc approve of
▪ He strongly approves of his wife’s decision not to work until the children are old enough to go to school.
▷ be all for/be all in favour of also be all in favor of American /biː ˌɔːl ˈfɔːʳ , biː ˌɔːl ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv/ [verb phrase] spoken
if you are all for something or all in favour of something, you strongly approve of it -- used especially when you do not approve of something else that is often connected with it :
▪ The priest is all in favour of music in church, but he doesn’t think rock music is appropriate.
be all for (somebody) doing something
▪ I’m all for people going out and enjoying themselves, as long as they don’t drive when they’re drunk.
▪ Don’t get me wrong -- I’m all for cutting taxes if we can do it without hurting the poor.
▷ be a great/firm believer in /biː ə ˌgreɪt, ˌfɜːʳm bə̇ˈliːvər ɪn/ [verb phrase]
to approve of a particular way of living or of doing things because you think it brings good results :
▪ Alan is a firm believer in a healthy diet and regular exercise.
▪ I’ve never been a great believer in private schools.
3. to say that you approve of something or someone
▷ endorse /ɪnˈdɔːʳs/ [transitive verb]
to say publicly or officially that you approve of something or someone and will support it or them :
▪ Aides say Ames plans to endorse the proposed budget.
▪ In today’s edition, the paper endorsed Mayor Riley, who is running for re-election.
▪ Huntley refused to endorse any candidate who did not share his views on gun control.
▷ be an advocate of /biː ən ˈædvəkə̇t ɒv/ [verb phrase]
to think that a way of doing something is right, and often try to persuade other people to agree with you :
▪ She has always been an advocate of women’s rights.
be a strong advocate of something
▪ Gandhi was a strong advocate of non-violent protest.
4. when someone approves of something or someone
▷ approval /əˈpruːv ə l/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Ben needs to have his wife’s approval before he’ll do anything.
win/earn somebody’s approval
▪ By doing well at school he hoped to win his parents’ approval.
nod/smile/watch etc with approval
▪ The children played quietly in the back yard as Frances looked on with approval.
▷ blessing /ˈblesɪŋ/ [countable noun]
if someone gives their blessing to something, they say that they will allow it to happen and will not try to stop it :
give your blessing to something/give something your blessing
▪ Mayor Wharton gave the proposal his blessing.
with somebody’s blessing
▪ Darren and Teresa planned to live together before they got married, with their parents’ blessing.