approach

[ uh-prohch ]

/ əˈproʊtʃ /

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See synonyms for: approach / approached / approaches / approaching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.

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

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR approach

1 near, close with.

3 sound out.

See synonyms for approach on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR approach

6 withdraw.

See antonyms for approach on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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-, propinquity

OTHER WORDS FROM approach

ap·proach·er, nounap·proach·less, adjectivere·ap·proach, verbun·ap·proached, adjective

un·ap·proach·ing, adjectivewell-ap·proached, adjective

Words nearby approach

appressorium, apprise, apprised, apprize, appro, approach, approachable, approach light, approach shot, approbate, approbation

How to use approach in a sentence

So, not in the immediate term, but if you think about how much money we’re spending, it’s completely appropriate.
Remembrance of Economic Crises Past (Ep. 425)|Stephen J. Dubner|July 9, 2020|Freakonomics
We need to have a really frank public discussion about what we think of appropriate trade-offs.
All kinds of outbreaks, from COVID-19 to violence, share the same principles|Cassandra Willyard|July 7, 2020|Science News
He warned that hospitalizations and deaths are an indicator that tends to lag an increase in new cases, and argued that pointing to those numbers to justify keeping businesses opened isn’t appropriate.
Morning Report: What’s in Faulconer’s ‘Complete Communities’ Plan|Voice of San Diego|July 7, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Establish and follow appropriate data retention and deletion policies for each type of sensitive data.
Beyond the AI hype cycle: Trust and the future of AI|Jason Sparapani|July 6, 2020|MIT Technology Review

At the start of the pandemic, businesses within cities were focused on getting their employees working remotely and securely, with access to the appropriate tools.
Cities still have a place in the post-pandemic world—but they have to be different. Here’s how|jakemeth|July 4, 2020|Fortune
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|DAILY BEAST
Like any good marketer, Silverman says he has sales figures proving his approach is working.
The Case Against In-Your-Face Atheism|Steve Neumann|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
This 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|DAILY BEAST
But 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|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. Ballantyne
Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
There seemed the flavour of some strange authority in her that baffled all approach to the former intimacy.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Perhaps 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

approach

/ (əˈprəʊtʃ) /

verb

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 withto approach a problem

(tr) rare to cause to come near

noun

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

Word Origin for approach

C14: from Old French aprochier, from Late Latin appropiāre to draw near, from Latin prope near

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

approach

OTHER WORDS FOR approach

OPPOSITES FOR approach

Origin of approach

OTHER WORDS FROM approach

Words nearby approach

Words related to approach

How to use approach in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for approach

Word Origin for approach