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Approve vs Recommend - What's the difference?

approve | recommend |

In transitive terms the difference between approve and recommend

is that approve is to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically while recommend is to advise, propose, counsel favorably.

approve

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . Compare prove, approbate.

Verb

(approv)
  • To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Can China clean up fast enough? , passage=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.}}
  • To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.
  • To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
  • * (Ralph Waldo Emerson),
  • Opportunities to approve worth.
  • * (Thomas Babington Macaulay),
  • He had approved himself a great warrior.
  • * (George Gordon Byron),
  • 'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true.
  • * (Francis Parkman),
  • His accountapproves him a man of thought.
  • To consider or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
  • * (Henry Rogers),
  • The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God.
  • * (Thomas Babington Macaulay),
  • They had not approved of the deposition of James.
  • * (William Black),
  • They approved of the political institutions.
    Note: This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of''), is often followed by ''of .
    Derived terms
    () * approval * approvable * I approve this message * approvably * approbation

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) aprouer; . Compare with improve.

    Verb

    (approv)
  • (English Law) 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.
  • References

    *

    recommend

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bestow commendation on; to represent favourably; to suggest, endorse or encourage as an appropriate choice.
  • The board recommends Philips, given his ample experience in similar positions.
  • To make acceptable; to attract favor to.
  • To advise, propose, counsel favorably
  • The therapist recommends resting the mind and exercising the body.
  • (archaic) To commit, confide to another's care, confidence or acceptance, with favoring representations
  • ''A medieval oblate's parents recommended the boy for life to God and the monastery

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * discourage * disapprove * oppose

    Derived terms

    * recommendable * recommendatory * recommended * recommender