🇺🇸
/əˈpruvz/
🇺🇸
/əˈpruvz/
🇬🇧
/əˈpruvz/
🇬🇧
/əˈpruvz/
Past Tense
approved
Past Participle
approved
Gerund
approving
3rd Person
approves
Approves is the third-person singular present tense of 'approve', meaning that someone in authority officially agrees to, accepts, or gives permission for something. Think of it as a green light: when your boss approves your vacation request, you’re officially cleared to go.
The manager approves all expense reports before they are processed.
The city council approves new building permits every Thursday.
She approves of her daughter's choice of college.
The FDA approves life-saving drugs after rigorous testing.
He never approves of risky investments.
pro
Comes from the Latin preposition 'pro', meaning 'for', 'in favor of', or 'on behalf of'. It conveys support, advocacy, or substitution. Examples include approve, proponent, prosecute (originally 'to pursue on behalf of'), and proceed.
ap-
A variant of the Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to' or 'toward', which assimilates before 'p' (as in 'approve', 'appoint', 'appreciate'). It signals movement or direction toward something — here, toward formal acceptance or agreement. Examples include approve, appoint, appraise, and attract (via 'ad-trahere').