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

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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

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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. )

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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

Comedian, actor and writer Punkie Johnson has never been particularly concerned with making herself more palatable for a mass audience, though fully embracing that approach has been a journey in itself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026

And his approach ultimately ensured that England became the first nation to win the Wheelchair World Cup three times.

From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026

John Buckingham, a veteran value-oriented stock picker, believes the best approach is to focus on a stock’s total return potential, which means emphasizing long-term growth first, and income second.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 13, 2026

Groupon is still working on its approach to the algorithms, “pretty much learning and changing it” on an everyday basis, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

As I approach the front gate, a figure steps from the dark guard’s hut, his faint torch angled down.

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

There is a big catch to this strong year-end seasonality in favor of momentum approaches, however: Their good fortune in December reverses itself in January, on average.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026

It stifles corporate experimentation to find other collaborative approaches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

Europe -- alarmed by US President Donald Trump floating a deal with Moscow on European security ahead of the talks -- will also send representatives to Abu Dhabi, as another winter of war approaches.

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026

Senior officials from Moscow, Kyiv and Washington will meet in Abu Dhabi as the fifth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches.

From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026

The train approaches Chicago in the late afternoon.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

But as the tournament approached, Pochettino’s Argentine standards took on some distinctly American optimism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

By remarkable timing, the spacecraft passed through the ring current shortly after the May 2024 storm began and again as the disturbance approached its peak.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

The Environment Agency have been approached for comment.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

Conventiongoers who recognized the Greens from the television news approached them to offer donations and legal help.

From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026

But, as we approached the soldiers, her expression changed.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

The yen is once again approaching the potential intervention zone, within striking distance of the historically sensitive 160-163 yen range against the dollar, he said in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

A video of the incident appeared to show Russian Nurmagomedov slap Dvalishvili after approaching the Georgian from behind.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

That fateful Thursday is approaching — the day when millions of American families gather in their homes for a traditional fall harvest meal, sometimes with a side dish of awkwardness and argument.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

"Our liquid-crystal microcavities can operate even at temperatures approaching 60°C," says Professor Wiktor Piecek from the Military University of Technology, whose group developed the liquid-crystal structures.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026

Summer was fast approaching, and the days were already growing long and hot.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

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