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

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

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have approached
  perfect
• has approached
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been approaching
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been approaching
  perfect progressive
• are approaching
  progressive
• approaches
  singular 3rd person
• am approaching
  progressive 1st person singular
• is approaching
  progressive 3rd person singular
• approaching
  participle

Past

• had approached
  perfect
• had been approaching
  perfect progressive
• was approaching
  progressive singular
• approached
  participle
• approached
  simple
• were approaching
  progressive plural

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

Some schools also could take a more conservative approach to valuation and intentionally undervalue their positions given that pre-IPO investors are often restricted from selling their shares for a period after a company goes public.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Government guidance says the duty should "always be applied in a proportionate way" depending on the circumstances of the case and that organisations should avoid an "overly bureaucratic and burdensome approach".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Combined with radiocarbon dating of fabric fragments preserved inside several helmets, the approach allowed researchers to establish a highly accurate age for the artifacts.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

“The market is not going to have a problem with a very slow, cautious approach to rate hikes to make sure there is price stability,” Tipp said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

I didn’t have Samir’s shameless approach of inviting myself into the lives of others.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• attitude
• concept
• idea
• manner
• means
• method
• mode
• procedure
• program
• style
• technique
• way