Approving — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈprü-viŋ/ ap·prov·ing

Meaning & Definition of Approving

Approving (adjective)

  1. showing approval or acceptance

Approving (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. expressing approval

    "the play did not receive a single approving notice"

    similar: admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, friendly, good, positive
    related: accepting, warm, encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic, laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful, respectful, supportive, sympathetic, adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping, advisory, recommendatory
    opposite: adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly
    near: captious, carping, caviling, censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting

Approving (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give official acceptance of as satisfactory

    "as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site"

    similar: accrediting, approbating, authorizing, clearing, confirming, finalizing, formalizing, homologating, OK'ing, ratifying, sanctioning, warranting
    related: accepting, acknowledging, affirming, certifying, endorsing, validating, blessing, canonizing, sanctifying, initialing, rubber-stamping, signing, signing off (on), allowing, enabling, legalizing, licensing, passing, permitting, reapproving
    opposite: declining, denying, disallowing, disapproving, negativing, rejecting, turning down, vetoing
    near: banning, enjoining, forbidding, illegalizing, interdicting, prohibiting, proscribing, disregarding, ignoring, neglecting, overlooking, rebuffing, rebutting, refusing, spurning

Related Entry: Approve (verb)

Approve is a different word from Approving. The synonyms below are for approve, not for approving.

  1. to give official acceptance of as satisfactory

    "as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site"

    similar: accredit, approbate, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK, ratify, sanction, warrant
    related: accept, acknowledge, affirm, certify, endorse, validate, bless, canonize, sanctify, initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on), allow, enable, legalize, license, pass, permit, reapprove
    opposite: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto
    near: ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn

Related Entry: Approve (of) (verb)

Approve (of) is a different word from Approving. The synonyms below are for approve (of), not for approving.

  1. to have a favorable opinion of

    "we don't approve of people who stand in the 12 items or less lane with 13 items"

    similar: accept, care (for), countenance, favor, OK, subscribe (to), go for, hold with, take kindly to
    related: acclaim, applaud, laud, praise, salute, back (up), concur (in), stand by, support, sustain, uphold, bear, endure, tolerate, assent (to), consent (to), commend, recommend, enjoy, like
    opposite: disapprove (of), discountenance, disfavor, frown (on or upon)
    near: blacklist, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, reprehend, reprobate, dislike, mind, detest, hate, loathe, dissent (from), object (to), oppose

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Approving

The most common words with a similar meaning to Approving:

admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, friendly, good, positive, accrediting, approbating, authorizing, clearing, confirming, finalizing, formalizing, homologating, OK'ing, ratifying, sanctioning, warranting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Approving

Words with the opposite meaning of Approving:

adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly, declining, denying, disallowing, negativing, rejecting, turning down, vetoing

Related Words for Approving

accepting, warm, encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic, laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful, respectful, supportive, sympathetic, adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping, advisory, recommendatory, acknowledging, affirming, certifying, endorsing, validating, blessing, canonizing, sanctifying, initialing, rubber-stamping

Near Antonyms of Approving

captious, carping, caviling, censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting, banning, enjoining, forbidding, illegalizing, interdicting, prohibiting, proscribing, disregarding, ignoring, neglecting, overlooking, rebuffing, rebutting, refusing, spurning

Word Forms of Approving

Derived words: approvingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Approving

from present participle of approve

First known use: 1646

Frequently Asked Questions about Approving

What does "Approving" mean?

"Approving" means showing approval or acceptance. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: showing approval or acceptance. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Approving"?

Other words for "Approving" include admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, commendatory, complimentary, favorable and friendly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Approving" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Approving"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Approving". Common alternatives include admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, friendly, good and positive.

What is the opposite of "Approving"?

Antonyms of "Approving" include adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative and unappreciative. Near antonyms include captious, carping, caviling and censuring.

How do you use "Approving" in a sentence?

Examples of "Approving" in a sentence: "the play did not receive a single approving notice"; "as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site".

Is "Approving" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Approving" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Approving"?

"Approving" is pronounced /ə-ˈprü-viŋ/ and divided into syllables as ap·prov·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Approving"?

"Approving" comes from from present participle of approve. First known use: 1646.