approve

verb

1. (transitive)To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.

   “Although we may disagree with it, we must nevertheless approve the sentence handed down by the court-martial.”

   “It has jailed environmental activists and is planning to limit the power of judicial oversight by handing a state-approved body a monopoly over bringing environmental lawsuits.”

2. (transitive)To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.

   “We approve the measure of the administration, for it is an excellent decision.”

3. (archaic, transitive)To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.

   “He had long burned with impatience to approve his valour.”

   “1812–1818, Lord Byron, Child Harolde's Piligrimage 'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true.”

   “Opportunities to approve[…]worth.”

   “He had approved himself a great warrior.”

   “Sore against our will did we of Witchland join with the Demons in that war, foreseeing (as hath been bloodily approved) that the issue must be but the puffing up of the Demons, who desire no other thing than to be lords and tyrants of all the world.”

4. (intransitive)To consider worthy (to); to be pleased (with); to accept.

   “Her mother never approves of any of her boyfriends. She thinks nobody is good enough for her little girl.”

   “Their address was in the most dutiful manner, approving of what her majesty had done toward a peace, and dissolve her parliament”

   “They had not approved of the deposition of James.”

   “Dad didn't approve of me, do you? I'm alive with something inside of me.”

   “Your mother wouldn't approve of how my mother raised me. But I do, I think I do. And you're an all-American boy”

5. (archaic, transitive, usually)To show to be worthy; to demonstrate the merits of.

   “The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God.”

6. (English, transitive)To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit — said especially of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.