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approval

Approval is a formal agreement. It's probably not a good idea to mail the invitations for your beach party until you've gotten official approval for the enormous bonfire you're planning to light.

Building designs, budgets, grant applications — these all require official approval before they can be put into effect. You can also use the word approval to talk about less formal permission, like a teacher's approval of your plan to buy pizza for the whole class. Approval also means the belief that something is good, like your approval of your neighbor's purple house. Until 1800, it was much more common for people to use the word approvance to mean the same thing.

DEFINITIONS OF: approval

n the formal act of approving

“his decision merited the approval of any sensible person”

Synonyms:: approving, blessing

Antonyms:: disapproval
the act of disapproving or condemning

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; acceptance, acceptation, adoption, espousal
the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; backing, backup, championship, patronage
the act of providing approval and support; admiration, appreciation
a favorable judgment; reinforcement, reward
an act performed to strengthen approved behavior; bosom, embrace
a close affectionate and protective acceptance; adoration, idolisation, idolization
the act of admiring strongly; glorification, idealisation, idealization
a portrayal of something as ideal; carrot
promise of reward as in "carrot and stick"

Type of:: support
aiding the cause or policy or interests of

n acceptance as satisfactory

“he bought it on approval”

Synonyms:: favorable reception, favourable reception

Types:: appro
an informal British abbreviation of approval

Type of:: acceptance
the state of being acceptable and accepted

n a feeling of liking something or someone good

“although she fussed at them, she secretly viewed all her children with approval”

Antonyms:: disapproval
a feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing

Types:: favor, favour
a feeling of favorable regard; approbation
official approval

Type of:: liking
a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment

n a message expressing a favorable opinion

“words of approval seldom passed his lips”

Synonyms:: commendation

Antonyms:: disapproval
the expression of disapproval

Types:: show 44 types...; hide 44 types...; approbation
official recognition or approval; countenance, endorsement, imprimatur, indorsement, sanction, warrant
formal and explicit approval; credit, recognition
approval; connivance, secret approval, tacit consent
(law) tacit approval of someone's wrongdoing; permission
approval to do something; encouragement
the expression of approval and support; acclaim, acclamation, eclat, plaudit, plaudits
enthusiastic approval; applause, clapping, hand clapping
a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together; cheer
a cry or shout of approval; congratulations, extolment, kudos, praise
an expression of approval and commendation; testimonial, tribute
something given or done as an expression of esteem; authorisation, authority, authorization, sanction
official permission or approval; O.K., OK, okay, okeh, okey
an endorsement; visa
an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing it; nihil obstat
the phrase used by the official censor of the Roman Catholic Church to say that a publication has been examined and contains nothing offensive to the church; commemoration, memorial, remembrance
a recognition of meritorious service; ovation, standing ovation
enthusiastic recognition (especially one accompanied by loud applause); salutation, salute
an act of honor or courteous recognition; all clear
permission to proceed because obstacles have been removed; consent
permission to do something; dismissal
permission to go; the sending away of someone; green light
permission to proceed with a project or to take action; leave
permission to do something; laissez passer, pass
a document indicating permission to do something without restrictions; pass, passport
any authorization to pass or go somewhere; hand
a round of applause to signify approval; handclap
a clap of the hands to indicate approval; round
an outburst of applause; banzai
a Japanese cheer of enthusiasm or triumph; bravo
a cry of approval as from an audience at the end of great performance; hooray, hurrah
a victory cheer; salvo
a sudden outburst of cheers; superlative
an exaggerated expression (usually of praise); encomium, eulogy, paean, panegyric, pean
a formal expression of praise; eulogium, eulogy
a formal expression of praise for someone who has died recently; good word, recommendation, testimonial
something that recommends (or expresses commendation of) a person or thing as worthy or desirable; compliment
a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration; abetment, abettal, instigation
the verbal act of urging on; cheering, shouting
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators; advancement, furtherance, promotion
encouragement of the progress or growth or acceptance of something; fosterage, fostering
encouragement; aiding the development of something; goad, goading, prod, prodding, spur, spurring, urging
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; incitement, provocation
needed encouragement; vote of confidence
an expression of approval and encouragement

Type of:: content, message, subject matter, substance
what a communication that is about something is about

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