green light

noun

: authority or permission to proceed
green-light transitive verb

Examples of green light in a Sentence

we were given the green light to use the town commons for our fund-raiser
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The six-month delay in the completion of the Multichoice acquisition isn’t due to regulatory concerns as anti-trust authorities have already given their green light, but due to local regulations. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025 The Netherlands would need a green light from its parliament, as would Germany, whose position could evolve after the Feb. 23 elections usher in a new government. Lorne Cook The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2025 That proposal still needs a final green light and could be a year or more from completion. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 His speech is going to embolden our adversaries who will see this as a green light to act while America is distracted/divided. Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for green light

Word History

Etymology

from the green traffic light which signals permission to proceed

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of green light was in 1937

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Green light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20light. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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