Definitions

give the go-ahead

VERB

accede

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquiesce

STRONG

accept admit allow assent comply concede concur cooperate endorse fold grant let okay permit subscribe yield

WEAK

be game for cave in cry uncle enter into give the green light go along with play ball roll over and play dead throw in the towel

Antonyms

STRONG

decline deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent forbid hinder hold impede keep obstruct oppose prevent protest refuse reject repel repudiate resist veto

WEAK

condemn demur denounce

VERB

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge admit adopt affirm approve assume buy comply recognize sign undertake

STRONG

accede acquiesce assent avow bear okay

WEAK

agree to check out concur with cooperate with give stamp of approval give the green light give the nod go for lap up rubber-stamp set store by sign off on take on take one up on thumbs-up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deny disapprove oppose refuse reject repudiate

STRONG

condemn disagree dissent protest

WEAK

blackball decline demur disallow discard dispute renounce

VERB

agree

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge admit allow comply concede concur grant recognize set settle sign

STRONG

accede acquiesce check consent engage okay permit subscribe

WEAK

be of the same mind bury the hatchet buy into clinch the deal come to terms cut a deal give blessing give carte blanche give green light go along with make a deal pass on play ball see eye to eye shake on side with take one up on yes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contradict deny disagree disapprove dispute dissent oppose refuse reject repudiate resist

STRONG

object protest

WEAK

contend decline differ

VERB

allow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approve authorize favor oblige recognize release support tolerate

STRONG

accord accredit admit bear brook certify commission consent empower endorse endure indulge let license okay sanction stand suffer warrant

WEAK

be big be game for free up give a blank check give carte blanche give leave give permission give the green light go along with grant permission hear of hold with live with pass on put up with sit still for take kindly to

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deny disallow disapprove oppose refuse reject veto

STRONG

disagree dissent prevent protest repel unauthorize withhold

WEAK

forbid hold keep prohibit resist withstand

VERB

authorize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

empower enable entitle license okay

STRONG

accredit bless commission invest vest

WEAK

give authority give the green light give the word rubber-stamp say the word

Antonyms

STRONGEST

refuse reject

STRONG

deny disapprove

WEAK

disallow

VERB

confirm

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affirm approve back certify corroborate endorse establish explain sign substantiate support uphold verify

STRONG

attest authenticate bless buy check circumstantiate debunk double-check justify okay sanction settle subscribe underpin vouch warrant witness

WEAK

bear out check out give green light give high sign give stamp of approval give the nod lap up make good make sure rubber-stamp sign off on size up thumbs-up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

confuse contradict deny disallow disapprove discredit disprove invalidate oppose refuse reject

STRONG

disagree refute veto

WEAK

annul cancel destroy repudiate void

VERB

endorse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advocate affirm approve back commend confirm defend favor okay praise ratify recommend sanction uphold

STRONG

accredit attest authenticate bless boost certify champion countenance guarantee push second sustain underwrite warrant witness

WEAK

back up give a boost to give green light give one's word give the nod go along with go to bat for go with lend one's name to rubber-stamp stand behind stand up for stump for subscribe to vouch for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attack censure criticize deny disagree disapprove discourage dissuade invalidate oppose refuse reject renounce veto

STRONG

halt

WEAK

protest repel unauthorize

VERB

okay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

authorize notarize

STRONG

OK accept accredit approve certify condone confirm endorse pass sanction

WEAK

consent to give one's consent give the green light rubber-stamp say yes to

Antonyms

STRONG

censure contradict deny disagree disallow disapprove invalidate oppose prevent refuse reject repudiate veto

VERB

sanction

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accredit allow approve certify empower endorse permit ratify warrant

STRONG

back bless commission countenance license okay support

WEAK

get behind give the green light give the nod go for vouch for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deny disagree disallow disapprove invalidate oppose protest refuse reject revoke

STRONG

discourage veto

WEAK

prevent

VERB

validate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approve certify confirm corroborate endorse justify legalize legitimize ratify substantiate verify

STRONG

authenticate authorize constitute okay sanction

WEAK

John Hancock bear out give stamp of approval give the green light give the nod make binding make legal make stick rubber-stamp set seal on sign off on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contradict deny disagree disallow disapprove discredit disprove invalidate oppose refuse reject repudiate veto

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jair Bolsonaro is expected to be transferred back to federal police headquarters as soon as doctors give the go-ahead.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the regulator had yet to give the go-ahead.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

Anakara has made a series of demands that it says Sweden and Finland need to meet in order for it to give the go-ahead to the Nordic countries' memberships.

From Reuters • Dec. 19, 2022

The shots could begin in early November — with the first children in line fully protected by Christmas — if regulators give the go-ahead.

From Washington Times • Oct. 22, 2021

Otherwise, they wouldn’t give the go-ahead for the broadcast.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

give the go-ahead

Example Sentences

Related Words