to secure approval

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to secure approval" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the process of obtaining permission or consent for something, often in a formal or professional context. Example: "Before we can proceed with the project, we need to secure approval from the management team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

To secure approval of the deal, the company agreed to sell off assets in seven markets.

The New York Times

Capital One needs support from a majority of the board's five governors to secure approval.

The New York Times

They promised to secure approval by the full House in 10 days.

The New York Times

But many companies use their Web sites to advise potential customers to secure approval from building management.

The New York Times

To secure approval, the city made commitments to acquire a building and produce at least 120 single-room-occupancy units.

The New York Times

Before Christmas he also hopes to secure approval for his enlarged interior ministry, which was held up by objections in the Senate.

The Economist

This bodes ill for the DPJ's efforts to secure approval of an ¥7.2 trillion supplementary budget for the fiscal year ending in March, and for next year's budget.

The Economist

In its statement, HTC said it believed it was "in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with customs to secure approval".

The New York Times

He recalled Parliament from its summer break for an emergency debate in order to secure approval for British participation in the retaliatory military intervention.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The deaths in Homs met with international condemnation amid intense diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to secure approval of a resolution.

Independent

They worked to secure approval of the constitutional process among the Tunisian population, culminating in democratic elections following the Tunisian Revolution.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, pair the phrase with a prepositional phrase identifying the authority, such as "from the board" or "by the commission".

Common error

Avoid using "to secure approval" when you actually mean "to ensure approval". While "secure" means to successfully get the permission, "ensure" implies making it certain that the permission will be granted in the future.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to secure approval" acts as an infinitive phrase, typically functioning as a noun or an adverbial of purpose. In many cases cited by Ludwig, it explains the objective behind a complex action, such as a company selling assets or a politician negotiating a bill. The verb "secure" adds a layer of effort or achievement to the act of obtaining permission.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to secure approval" is a robust and sophisticated choice for describing the act of winning formal consent. With 56 high-quality examples in Ludwig AI, it is clearly established in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist. It is most effective in professional writing to describe outcomes that required effort, such as mergers, legislative changes or scientific trials. Whether you are writing a business proposal or a journalistic piece, using this phrase conveys a sense of finality and successful negotiation that simple alternatives like "get permission" lack. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically sound and highly recommended construction for formal English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to obtain approval

A direct and slightly more common synonym that is equally professional.

to gain authorization

Focuses more on the official or legal power granted by the approval.

to secure consent

Common in medical or legal contexts involving agreement between parties.

to win approval

Emphasizes the effort, persuasion or competition required to succeed.

to receive clearance

Specific to security, technical or logistical permissions.

to achieve sanction

A very formal term usually implying high-level official endorsement.

to garner support

Refers to collecting backing rather than just a single final decision.

to obtain go-ahead

Common in project management and business planning contexts.

to get the green light

An idiomatic and more informal way to describe the same outcome.

to acquire endorsement

Used when the approval comes in the form of public or influential backing.

FAQs

How do I use "to secure approval" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an objective, such as: "The developer worked for months <a href="/s/to+secure+approval" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to secure approval for the new housing project."

What can I say instead of "to secure approval"?

Depending on the level of formality, you can use "<a href="/s/to+obtain+approval" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to obtain approval", "<a href="/s/to+win+approval" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to win approval" or "<a href="/s/to+gain+authorization" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to gain authorization".

Is "to secure approval" formal or informal?

It is considered professional and neutral. It is highly appropriate for business emails, legal documents and news reports but may feel slightly stiff in casual conversation.

What is the difference between "to secure approval" and "to obtain approval"?

While both mean to get permission, "<a href="/s/to+secure+approval" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to secure approval" often implies a more active, difficult or finalized process compared to the more neutral "<a href="/s/to+obtain+approval" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to obtain approval".