approval
noun
ap·prov·al
ə-ˈprü-vəl 
: an act or instance of approving something : approbation
The change is subject to the committee's approval.
see also:
Synonyms of approval
Examples of approval in a Sentence
children who never gained their parents' approval
Do I have your approval to make the changes?
The rally will be on May 19, provided the city gives its approval.
The government has so far withheld approval of the drug.
We were required to get approvals at each stage of the project.
Recent Examples on the Web
Those results were strong enough to support the FDA’s late 2024 approval of Zepbound as the first-ever medication specifically indicated for obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity — a historic shift in how the condition can be treated.
—
Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
The transaction is expected to close in 12-18 months, subject to antitrust review, shareholder and regulatory approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and state utility regulators in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
—Reuters, NBC news, 18 May 2026
The Commerce Department’s May 14 license ceiling still exists on paper, but not one unit has shipped — and the terms attached to that framework made approval unlikely from the start.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The companies need approval from at least six regulators including state utility commissioners, in some cases appointed by governors and state legislators who are themselves trying to manage thorny AI politics.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for approval
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
The transaction is expected to close in 12-18 months, subject to antitrust review, shareholder and regulatory approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and state utility regulators in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
—Reuters, NBC news, 18 May 2026
The Commerce Department’s May 14 license ceiling still exists on paper, but not one unit has shipped — and the terms attached to that framework made approval unlikely from the start.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The companies need approval from at least six regulators including state utility commissioners, in some cases appointed by governors and state legislators who are themselves trying to manage thorny AI politics.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for approval
Cite this Entry
“Approval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approval. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
approval
noun
ap·prov·al
ə-ˈprü-vəl
: an act or instance of approving
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
