Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913 Approbate · Ap·pro·bate · IPA a. v. t. 01 a. Approved. 1. Approved.[Obs.] 02 v. t. To express approbation of; to approve; to sanction officially. 1. To express approbation of; to approve; to sanction officially. “I approbate the one, I reprobate the other.” — Sir W. Hamilton.