approve

approve — verb

1. to give official permission or formal agreement for a plan, request, document, o

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to give official permission or formal agreement for a plan, request, document, or product, so that it can move forward or be used.

例句

The city council approved the new park near Maple Street last Tuesday.

approve + concrete proposal noun

Mrs. Lin's bank loan was approved within three working days.

passive: be approved (formal contexts)

同義詞
  • authorize

    more formal; emphasises giving someone the right to act

  • endorse

    stresses public, written backing rather than just permission

  • sanction

    formal/legal; can sound bureaucratic

  • ratify

    very formal; used for treaties, contracts, constitutions

反義詞
  • reject

    the most common opposite for plans, requests, applications

  • veto

    stronger; one authority blocks something the others wanted

文法句型

approve + noun (plan, request, budget, drug)

用法筆記

Subject is usually an institution, committee, or person with authority (a board, a manager, a court). The object is a thing being permitted (plan, loan, budget, drug). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense never takes 'of' before its object.

常見錯誤

❌The manager approved of my request for time off.
✅The manager approved my request for time off.
💡when giving official permission, use 'approve' directly with no preposition.
❌The council was approved the new road plan.
✅The council approved the new road plan.
💡only use the passive when the thing being permitted is the subject.

2. to feel that someone or something is good, right, or suitable, often in a person

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to feel that someone or something is good, right, or suitable, often in a personal or moral way; used with 'of' before the thing or person you have a good feeling about.

例句

Olu's parents do not approve of her boyfriend's loud motorcycle.

approve of + noun (personal opinion)

Most teachers approve of giving students short breaks during long classes.

approve of + -ing (gerund)

同義詞
  • support

    broader; can include active help, not just feeling

  • favour

    prefer one option over another; less moral tone

  • agree with

    informal; for ideas or actions you think are right

反義詞

文法句型

approve of + noun / -ing

用法筆記

Always followed by 'of' plus a noun or -ing form; never takes a direct object. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about a personal feeling or moral judgement, not official power, so it cannot replace sense 1 in a sentence like 'The board approved the budget.'

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother doesn't approve my new haircut.
✅My grandmother doesn't approve of my new haircut.
💡for personal opinion, you must include 'of' before the thing.
❌She approves of buy a second-hand car.
✅She approves of buying a second-hand car.
💡after 'approve of', use the -ing form, not the bare verb.
❌I approve of the proposal at the meeting yesterday.
✅I approved the proposal at the meeting yesterday.
💡when you have authority and gave permission, drop the 'of'.