Trivia Time

Which fictional character is known for having a clumsy romantic approach?

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approach

American  

[uh-prohch] / əˈproʊtʃ /

verb (used with object)

• approaches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• approached,
  past participle,  past
• approaching
  present participle

1. 

   to come near or nearer to.

   The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.

   Synonyms:

   near

2. to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison.

   As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.

3. to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to.

   to approach the president with a suggestion.

4. to begin work on; set about.

   to approach a problem.

5. to make advances to; address.

6. to bring near to something.

   Antonyms:

   withdraw

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verb (used without object)

• approaches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• approached,
  past participle,  past
• approaching
  present participle

1. to come nearer; draw near.

   A storm is approaching.

2. to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.

noun

• approaches
  plural

1. the act of drawing near.

   the approach of a train.

2. nearness or close approximation.

   a fair approach to accuracy.

3. any means of access, as a road or ramp.

   the approaches to a city.

4. the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc..

   His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.

5. 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.

6. Sometimes approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.

7. Military. approaches, works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.

8. Also called approach shot.  Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.

9. Bowling.

   1. the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball.

      He favors a four-step approach.

   2. Also called runway.  the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.

approach British  

/ əˈprəʊtʃ /

verb

1. to come nearer in position, time, quality, character, etc, to (someone or something)

2. (tr) to make advances to, as with a proposal, suggestion, etc

3. (tr) to begin to deal with

   to approach a problem

4. rare (tr) to cause to come near

---

noun

1. the act of coming towards or drawing close or closer

2. a close approximation

3. the way or means of entering or leaving; access

4. (often plural) an advance or overture to a person

5. a means adopted in tackling a problem, job of work, etc

6. Also called: approach path.  the course followed by an aircraft preparing for landing

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• approacher
  noun
• reapproach
  verb
• approachless
  adjective
• unapproached
  adjective
• unapproaching
  adjective
• well-approached
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• approaches
  plural

Participles

• approaching
  present
• approached
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• approach
  simple
• approaches
  simple
• have approached
  perfect
• has approached
  perfect
• am approaching
  progressive
• are approaching
  progressive
• is approaching
  progressive
• have been approaching
  perfect progressive
• has been approaching
  perfect progressive

Past

• approached
  simple
• had approached
  perfect
• was approaching
  progressive
• were approaching
  progressive
• had been approaching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will approach
  simple
• will have approached
  perfect
• will be approaching
  progressive
• will have been approaching
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

approach approaches approached approaching

A CSU spokesperson said that the university system “appreciates” Newsom signing the bills into law, and called them “a thoughtful, student-centered approach to expanding community colleges’ ability to offer bachelor’s degrees.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

He described the proposed changes as part of a "carrot-and-stick" approach.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

The ETF takes a laddered approach to investing in autocallables, resulting in staggered maturities.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

As the airship made its final approach, at about 7:15 that evening, it was running some 12 hours late.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

The rumbling approach of an engine curbs our conversation.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Costs are expected to rise as winter approaches, a season of peak demand for the fuel.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

As that climax approaches, Mr. Osborne infuses the languid atmosphere with expertly calibrated tension.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

And questions linger over the postseason availability of several other MLB difference-makers as October approaches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

The studies evaluated 12 different approaches, including laser therapy, electrical stimulation, knee braces, insoles, kinesiology tape, water-based therapy, exercise, and ultrasound.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Waiting and hoping, on the one hand, or raging and cursing, on the other, seemed to be the two favored approaches.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

In the spring of 2022, Hamm approached Ryan, the creator of TV thrillers like “The Shield” and “The Night Agent,” with the idea of adapting the “American Hostage” podcast into a miniseries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

On that winter morning at the Red Rock Correctional Center in Lawton, Oklahoma, Walters was exiting his cell pod when guard Ronnie Sloan approached to deliver the unexpected message.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Cooper-Lesadd said she had approached Plaid Cymru after a "period of deliberation".

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

At the same time, the 2-year Treasury yield moved higher and the 10-year briefly approached 5%.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

That afternoon she ventured on deck for some air, and Captain Strøm himself approached her.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Adam Smith joined Bournemouth on loan during the 2010-11 campaign, returned on a permanent deal in 2014 and has been at the club ever since, with approaching 400 league appearances to his name.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

The efforts are setting the stage for what executives see as a rapidly approaching new era in payments, where AI bots could increasingly drive purchases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

He added that with winter approaching and because of the noise complaints, taking calls outside the office would no longer be an option.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

This spring, executives at Clorox said that though they were considering pricing changes, they were approaching the idea with “a high level of discipline and caution.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

“Thanks, JP,” he mumbles and watches the approaching Guardian.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

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