approach
Americanverb (used with object)
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to come near or nearer to.
The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.
- Synonyms:
- near
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to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison.
As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.
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to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to.
to approach the president with a suggestion.
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to begin work on; set about.
to approach a problem.
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to make advances to; address.
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to bring near to something.
- Antonyms:
- withdraw
verb (used without object)
-
to come nearer; draw near.
A storm is approaching.
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to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
noun
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the act of drawing near.
the approach of a train.
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nearness or close approximation.
a fair approach to accuracy.
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any means of access, as a road or ramp.
the approaches to a city.
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the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc..
His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.
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the course to be followed by an aircraft in approaching for a landing or in joining a traffic pattern.
The plane's approach to the airport was hazardous.
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Sometimes approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.
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Military. approaches, works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.
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Also called approach shot. Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.
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Bowling.
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the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball.
He favors a four-step approach.
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Also called runway. the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.
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verb
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to come nearer in position, time, quality, character, etc, to (someone or something)
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(tr) to make advances to, as with a proposal, suggestion, etc
-
(tr) to begin to deal with
to approach a problem
-
rare (tr) to cause to come near
noun
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the act of coming towards or drawing close or closer
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a close approximation
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the way or means of entering or leaving; access
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(often plural) an advance or overture to a person
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a means adopted in tackling a problem, job of work, etc
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Also called: approach path. the course followed by an aircraft preparing for landing
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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well-approachedadjective
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unapproachingadjective
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approachernoun
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approachlessadjective
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reapproachverb
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unapproachedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has approachedperfect 3rd person singular
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have approachedperfect
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are approachingprogressive
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am approachingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is approachingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
has been approachingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been approachingperfect progressive
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approachessingular 3rd person
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approachingparticiple
Past
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had approachedperfect
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were approachingprogressive plural
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was approachingprogressive singular
-
had been approachingperfect progressive
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approachedparticiple
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approachedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of approach
First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English a(p)prochen, from Old French aprochier, from Late Latin adpropiāre “to draw near,” equivalent to ad- “to” and propiāre “to draw near,” derivative of Latin propius “nearer” (comparative of prope “near”), replacing Latin appropinquāre; (noun) late Middle English approche, derivative of the verb; see ad- ( def. ), propinquity ( def. )
Explanation
To approach is to get near something. An airplane is cleared for a final approach just as the wheels approach the landing strip. Approach comes from the Latin word appropriare which means "go nearer to." You can physically approach something, like a waiter going to a table. Or, you can approach a subject, usually one you're a little nervous about — like a new employee might approach her boss about getting a raise. Time can also approach, like winter, midnight, or even old age.
Vocabulary lists containing approach
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act V
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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.
At the center of the approach is a specialized fuel that works with both chemical and electric propulsion systems.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
Tech companies have preferred a ship-first, sort-it-out-later approach.
From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026
Volvo Autonomous Solutions is targeting driverless on-highway operations by the first quarter of 2027 and aims to approach around $3 billion in revenues within five years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Sullivan has adopted a very involved approach to running West Ham.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
I approach the door and lift the akrafena.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
