approval
gb/əpɹˈuvəl/ us/əpɹˈuvəl/
B1
English
~ 2200
jóváhagyás, engedély, elismerés, helyeslés
NOUN
B1
1
jóváhagyás
B2
engedély
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s approval of [something]
The new building design received city council approval.
Az új épület terve megkapta a városi tanács jóváhagyását.
Her promotion was subject to the manager's approval.
Az előléptetése a vezetője jóváhagyásától függött.
We cannot start the project without official approval.
He sought his parents' approval before proposing.
The drug has not yet won government approval.
Learner examples
I need my boss's approval for the trip.
Az utazáshoz szükségem van a főnököm jóváhagyására.
We got approval to use the park.
Engedélyt kaptunk a park használatára.
The plan has official approval.
She asked for her teacher's approval.
The new rules need government approval.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'approval' with 'permission'. While related, 'approval' often implies agreement with the idea itself, not just allowing it.
Meaning
official agreement or permission
Collocations
gain approval
|seek approval
|official approval
|parental approval
|approval process
Synonyms
authorization (More formal and often used in legal or bureaucratic contexts.)
Antonyms
disapproval (Expressing a negative opinion or refusal toward something.)
Themes
business
|daily life
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When someone says yes to a plan or idea, often in an official way.
The act of agreeing to or accepting something, often in an official or formal way.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s approval of [someone/something]
She smiled in approval when her son played the piano.
Elismerően mosolygott, amikor a fia zongorázott.
His latest novel met with critical approval.
A kritikusok elismeréssel fogadták a legújabb regényét.
The teacher gave him a nod of approval.
They looked to the crowd for signs of approval.
Her speech won the audience's warm approval.
Learner examples
My father gave me a smile of approval.
Apám elismerő mosollyal nézett rám.
The teacher showed her approval of my work.
A tanárnő elismerését fejezte ki a munkám iránt.
I saw his nod of approval.
The team got a lot of public approval.
She likes to win people's approval.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with 'permission', but here it refers to liking or praising, not allowing.
Meaning
positive opinion or praise
Collocations
nod of approval
|smile of approval
|signs of approval
Synonyms
endorsement (Often used when someone publicly supports a person, product, or idea.)
Antonyms
criticism (Expressing a negative judgment about something.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When someone thinks something or someone is good and shows it.
A feeling or expression that something or someone is good or acceptable.
Grammar
Dictionary form
approval
IPA
GB/əpɹˈuvəl/
US/əpɹˈuvəl/
Syllables & stress
ap - prov - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (prov)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: approval
- Plural: approval, approvals
Word family
Forms
approvals
noun
Core family
approve
verb B1
Related words
approving
adjective
approvingly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
give one's approval
1/ɡˈɪv wˈʌnz əpɹˈuvəl/
fixed phrase
express agreement or permission
To say yes to something officially or clearly.
Examples
- The board gave its approval to the merger.
- My parents gave their approval for me to travel alone.
meet with someone's approval
1/mˈit wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌnz əpɹˈuvəl/
fixed phrase
be accepted by someone
To be liked or accepted by a person.
Examples
- Her suggestion met with everyone's approval.
- The changes did not meet with the manager's approval.
seal of approval
1/sˈil əv əpɹˈuvəl/
idiom
Official endorsement or acceptance
An action or statement showing someone approves of something.
Examples
- The project got the manager’s seal of approval.
- Winning the award gave her work a seal of approval.
seal of approval
2/sˈil əv əpɹˈuvəl/
idiom
official support statement
A sign or statement that shows something is officially accepted or supported.
Examples
- The product received the FDA's seal of approval.
- Her mentor's praise was the seal of approval she needed.
stamp of approval
3/stˈæmp əv əpɹˈuvəl/
idiom
sign that something is approved
A clear sign that someone with power or influence accepts or supports something.
Examples
- The project got the CEO's stamp of approval.
- The project finally received the CEO’s stamp of approval.
- Winning the award was like getting a stamp of approval from the industry.
- Getting the committee’s stamp of approval was not easy.
- The partnership has the clear stamp of approval from both governments.