- when intr, often followed by of:
to consider fair, good, or right; commend (a person or thing) - (transitive)
to authorize or sanction
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ap•proved /əˈpruvd/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- generally accepted as correct or appropriate:a list of approved books.
ap•prove /əˈpruv/USA pronunciation
v., -proved, -prov•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to have a favorable view of: [~ + object]I can't approve rude behavior.[no object* (~ + of + object])]:My parents didn't approve of my friends.
- [~ + object] to find to be acceptable: Do you approve the plan?
- Government[~ + object] to confirm formally;
ratify;
pass: The Senate voted to approve the bill.
ap•prove
(ə pro̅o̅v′),USA pronunciation v., -proved, -prov•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
ap•prov′ed•ly, adv.
ap•prov′ed•ness, n.
ap•prov′ing•ly, adv.
v.t.
- to speak or think favorably of;
pronounce or consider agreeable or good;
judge favorably:to approve the policies of the administration. - to consent or agree to:Father approved our plan to visit Chicago.
- Governmentto confirm or sanction formally;
ratify:The Senate promptly approved the bill. - [Obs.]
- to demonstrate;
show. - to make good;
attest. - to prove by trial.
- to convict.
- to demonstrate;
v.i.
- to speak or consider favorably (sometimes fol. by of ):Mother didn't approve of him. The boss wouldn't approve of the plan. He said that he approved.
- Latin approbāre, equivalent. to ap- ap-1 + probāre to prove
- Anglo-French, Old French aprover
- Middle English a(p)proven 1300–50
ap•prov′ed•ness, n.
ap•prov′ing•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged appreciate, esteem. Approve, commend, praise mean to have, and usually to express, a favorable opinion. To approve is to have a very good opinion, expressed or not, of someone or something:He approved the new plan.To commend is to speak or write approv-ingly, often formally and publicly, to congratulate or honor for something done:to commend a worker for a job well done.To praise is to speak or write, often in glowing and emotional terms, about one or more persons, actions, plans, etc.:to praise someone's courage.
- 2, 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged authorize, endorse, validate.
- 2, 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged reject.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'not approved' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):