approach
to come near or nearer to: The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.
to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison: As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.
to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to: to approach the president with a suggestion.
to begin work on; set about: to approach a problem.
to make advances to; address.
to bring near to something.
to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.
to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
the act of drawing near: the approach of a train.
nearness or close approximation: a fair approach to accuracy.
any means of access, as a road or ramp: the approaches to a city.
the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc.: His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.
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.
Sometimes approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.
approaches, Military. works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.
Also called approach shot. Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.
Bowling.
the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball: He favors a four-step approach.
Also called runway . the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.
Origin of approach
1Other words for approach
1 | near, close with |
3 | sound out |
Opposites for approach
Other words from approach
- ap·proach·er, noun
- ap·proach·less, adjective
- re·ap·proach, verb
- un·ap·proached, adjective
- un·ap·proach·ing, adjective
- well-ap·proached, adjective
Words Nearby approach
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use approach in a sentence
Is that a utilitarian approach—that you need to understand how institutions have changed to understand the way they are?
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society | Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTLike any good marketer, Silverman says he has sales figures proving his approach is working.
But we were attempting a deliberate naiveté, a decision to approach these books as if they might have something to teach us.
American Democracy Under Threat for 250 Years | Jedediah Purdy | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis is kind of an accidental career for me—which is why I approach it with irreverence and playfulness.
DJ Spooky Wants You To Question Everything You Know About Music, Technology, and Philosophy | Oliver Jones | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut this approach can be troublesome for a variety of reasons.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots | Emily Shire | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In truth, it was so intently engaged with a sleeping seal that it had not observed the approach of the sledge.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneGaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThere seemed the flavour of some strange authority in her that baffled all approach to the former intimacy.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodHe that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousPerhaps the nearest approach to a pure æsthetic enjoyment in these early days is the love of flowers.
Children's Ways | James Sully
British Dictionary definitions for approach
/ (əˈprəʊtʃ) /
to come nearer in position, time, quality, character, etc, to (someone or something)
(tr) to make advances to, as with a proposal, suggestion, etc
(tr) to begin to deal with: to approach a problem
(tr) rare to cause to come near
the act of coming towards or drawing close or closer
a close approximation
the way or means of entering or leaving; access
(often plural) an advance or overture to a person
a means adopted in tackling a problem, job of work, etc
Also called: approach path the course followed by an aircraft preparing for landing
Origin of approach
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse