APPROVE


Meaning of APPROVE in English

I. əˈprüv also aˈ- verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English approven, aproven, from Old French aprover, from Latin approbare to approve, prove, from ad- + probare to approve, prove — more at prove

transitive verb

1.

a. obsolete : to demonstrate the truth or correctness of : establish as fact or as being sound

b. archaic : corroborate , authenticate

c. obsolete : convict

approved in this offense — Shakespeare

2. obsolete

a. : test , try

b. : experience

3. archaic

a. : to make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance — used reflexively with to

the first care and concern must be to approve himself to God — John Rogers

b. : to offer proof of by active demonstration : manifest or display actually or practically : exhibit

his behavior under fire approved him a man of courage

4. : to judge and find commendable or acceptable : think well of : have or express a favorable opinion or judgment of

a friend, whom he liked, but whose conduct he could not approve — Osbert Sitwell

Jane secretly approved his discernment — Rose Macaulay

5.

a. : to express often formally agreement with and support of or commendation of as meeting a standard

the governor approved the project

one of the first hospitals in the state to be approved by the organization

b. : to vote into effect : pass formally

the legislature approved the bill

intransitive verb

: to have or express a favorable opinion : judge favorably — usually used with of

she wants to teach him not to fight; she doesn't approve of fighting — Margaret Mead

Synonyms:

sanction , endorse , accredit , certify : approve applies to a feeling or expression of commendation or of agreement with, but it may suggest a judicious attitude involved

fools admire, but men of wits approve — Joseph Furphey

the discomfiture … of doing, as he must, what he did not fully approve — J.G.Cozzens

sanction adds to approve notions of permission, countenancing, authorization, encouragement by something or someone in an authoritative position

the court has also sanctioned recently some federal efforts to protect Negroes in the South from violence — Alan Barth

“Come! Give me your authority … For his daughter's sake …” “In her name, then, let it be done; I sanction it” — Charles Dickens

endorse or indorse (see note at endorse ) suggests vouching for, supporting, or explicitly expressing approval of and is often used in reference to things needing promotion or publicity

the Kentucky Republicans endorsed him for the presidential nomination — E.M.Coulter

the view that increasing money wages is the only road to permanent prosperity has in recent years been endorsed by many business leaders — Fortune

accredit is likely to indicate an approved status confirmed by some authoritative force or conformity to a standard officially vouched for

few of us think of turning to the dictionary before writing a sentence to see if all the words we propose to use are properly accredited in the language — M.M.Mathews

institutions not accredited by a regional association — Bulletin of Bates College

certify is often a close synonym for accredit; it may stress a formal act of writing or attesting to conformity with a standard or to being as represented

labels by which brain merit is advertised and certified — medals, honors, degrees — Virginia Woolf

the nearly two billion that these utilities have had certified for rapid tax write-off — New Republic

II. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English approven, aproven, approuen, aprouen, from Middle French aprouer to cause to profit, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad- ) + -prouer (from prou profit, advantage) — more at prow

: to enclose or appropriate (wasteland or common land) for one's own benefit (as permitted especially to the lord of a manor in English law before the Enclosure acts)

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.