Word family noun approval ≠ disapproval adjective approving ≠ disapproving approved verb approve ≠ disapprove adverb approvingly ≠ disapprovingly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishapproveap‧prove /əˈpruːv/ ●●● S3 W2 verb 1 [transitive]AGREE to officially accept a plan, proposal etc The conference approved a proposal for a referendum.► see thesaurus at agree2 [intransitive]APPROVE to think that someone or something is good, right, or suitable OPP disapproveapprove of Catherine’s parents now approve of her marriage. I don’t approve of cosmetic surgery.GRAMMAR: Comparisonapprove of• You use approve of when saying that someone thinks that someone or something is good or right: Her parents didn’t approve of her boyfriend. ✗Don’t say: Her parents didn’t approve her boyfriend.approve• You use approve when saying that a person or group of people officially agrees to allow something to happen: Congress approved the budget.THESAURUSapprove to officially accept a plan, proposal etcThe Medical Research Council has approved the use of a new drug for breast cancer.pass to approve a law or proposal, especially by votingMany anti-smoking laws have been passed.ratify to make a written agreement official by signing itThe treaty was ratified by the Senate in 1988.rubber-stamp to approve something without really thinking about it – used to show disapprovalParliament merely rubber-stamped the president’s decisions. → See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
approve• Don will only buy the motorcycle if his parents approve.• Some women do not join unions because their husbands do not approve.• The Senate approved a plan for federal funding of local housing programs.• He said the proposals would have to be approved by the engineering department.• In the Watergate scandal, obstruction of justice was number one in the articles of impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee.• Assuming the department would approve, I could tell a story or two.• Bob doesn't approve of alcohol.• Do you approve of doctors using human embryos for research?• By the time she finished, her father would surely have approved of her work.• Forty percent of registered voters approved of Senator Campbell.• I was surprised that Mom seemed to approve of Tracy's new boyfriend.• In 1994, voters there approved Proposition 187, which restricts education, health and other state services to illegal aliens.• Congress voted not to approve the President's plans for cutting the arms budget.• The Medical Research Council said it could not approve the use of the new drug without further tests.• Kwalwasser drafted a reorganization plan for his office that the board of education approved Tuesday.approve of• Most people no longer approve of smoking in public places.Origin approve (1300-1400) Old French aprover, from Latin approbare, from ad- “to” + probare “to prove” 