ap·prove

(ə-pro͞ov′)

v. ap·proved, ap·prov·ing, ap·proves

v.tr.

1. To consent to officially or formally; confirm or sanction: The Senate approved the treaty.

2. To consider right or good: "He came to ask me ... whether I approved his choice altogether" (Jane Austen).

3. Obsolete To prove or attest.

v.intr.

To show, feel, or express approval: We didn't approve of the decision.

[Middle English appreven, approven, from Old French aprover, from Latin approbāre : ad-, ad- + probāre, to test (from probus, good; see per in Indo-European roots).]

ap·prov′a·ble adj.

ap·prov′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adv.

approvingly - in an approving manner; "she nodded approvingly"

disapprovingly - showing disapproval; "he shook his head disapprovingly"

Translations

assenziente

approvingly

[əˈpruːvɪŋlɪ] ADV → con aprobación
he looked at her approvingly → la miró con aprobación
he nodded approvingly → hizo un gesto de aprobación con la cabeza

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

approvingly

[əˈpruːvɪŋli] adv [watch, nod, smile, look] → d'un air approbateur

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

approvingly

adv → anerkennend, beifällig

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

approvingly

[əˈpruːvɪŋlɪ] adv → con approvazione

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"Quite poetical," commented the Scarecrow, nodding his head approvingly.

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Nikita listened, watched their faces, and evidently would have liked to share in the conversation, but he was too busy drinking his tea and only nodded his head approvingly. He emptied one tumbler after another and grew warmer and warmer and more and more comfortable.

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This last remark made me bashful, and I shook my head and settled down to `Jesse James.' Jake nodded at me approvingly and said you were likely to get diseases from foreigners.

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Pierre listened to the colonel's speech and nodded approvingly.

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The women nodded their heads approvingly. "To be sure," they cried out in hearty chorus.

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'Put him down on the roll, Muster Gashford,' said Dennis approvingly. 'That's the way to go to work--right to the end at once, and no palaver.'

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"So am I, for it strikes me that is an uncommonly 'nobby' little affair," he said approvingly. Tom had a weakness for pale pink roses, and perhaps Polly knew it.

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"And I drink `long life to your resolution', Teddy," cried Jo, baptizing him with a splash of lemonade, as she waved her glass and beamed approvingly upon him.

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Howard smiled an iron smile, and nodded his head approvingly. Then the news-bringer spoke again.

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The Burnham sisters nodded approvingly as Rebecca went out, and remarked that they had never seen a child grow and improve so fast in so short a time.

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"I am glad you have so much of the Englishman in you, though I wish you had never taken that cold in your voice," said Miss Pross, approvingly. "But the question, Doctor Manette.

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"Good master Little John," said the King, looking him over approvingly. "Could your weak sinews stand the strain of an office in the shire?

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