ENGLISH
REFERENCE

authorized

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɔθɝˌaɪzd// au·tho·rized

v. to give someone official permission to do something. When a person or group is authorized, they have the power or right to act.

v. to grant official permission for or to give legal power to an individual or entity. Transitive — requires a direct object, often followed by an infinitive phrase.


SIMPLE

The manager authorized the refund for the customer.

CONTEXTUAL

Only the security supervisor is authorized to access the server room after business hours.

COMPLEX

The board of directors authorized the CEO to negotiate the merger, provided that the final terms were presented for a vote before the end of the fiscal year.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and often appears in the passive voice ('is authorized to'). It frequently takes a direct object followed by a 'to'-infinitive.

Pitfall

He authorized to go.He was authorized to go.Authorize requires an object; if the person receiving permission is the subject, the verb must be in the passive voice.

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