Meaning & use
authorize
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformalbusiness
To give official permission for an action, payment, or plan.
Grammar: Takes a thing as object: authorize the purchase. British spelling is authorise.
Patterns
- authorize something
- authorize a payment
- authorize access to something
Only the director can authorize payments over ten thousand dollars.
The system will not authorize access without a code.
verbtransitiveformallaw
To give someone the power or right to act for another person or organization.
Grammar: Pattern is authorize someone to do something, not authorize someone doing.
Patterns
- authorize someone to do something
- authorize an agent
- be authorized by law
The board authorized her to sign the contract.
We are authorized by law to inspect the records.
Word forms
| third-person singular | authorizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | authorized |
| past participle | authorized |
| -ing form | authorizing |
Common combinations
- authorize payment
- The bank will authorize payment once the invoice is verified.
- authorize access
- Managers can authorize access to the shared drive.
- authorize someone to sign
- She was authorized to sign checks for the club.
- authorized dealer
- Buy parts from an authorized dealer to keep the warranty valid.
Synonyms and how they differ
- permit
- General permission for everyday situations; authorize sounds official.
- approve
- Means officially agree to a plan, but not necessarily give power to act.
- sanction
- Formal approval; be careful because it can also mean a penalty.
- empower
- Gives power or confidence broadly, not only official legal authority.
Opposites
Word family
- authority noun
- The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
- authorization noun
- Official permission or the document giving it.
- authoritative adjective
- Having recognized power or reliable knowledge.
Commonly confused: authorize or authorise? authorize or authenticate?
authorize vs authorise
Authorise is the common British spelling; authorize is standard American English.
authorize vs authenticate
Authenticate proves something is genuine; authorize gives permission or power.
Practice
Choose the correct pattern.
Choose one answer.
After authorize referring to a person, use authorize someone to do something. The other structures are ungrammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “authorize”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.