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

Helix sees numerous opportunities in AI infrastructure and is looking to provide long-dated, patient capital while maintaining a disciplined approach to investments, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Lee, whose party takes a conciliatory approach to the North, has been making efforts to reopen peace talks, with little success.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The problem surfaces when pilots alter their preprogrammed flight plan following a missed approach, according to Boeing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Their British approach to R&B prized tightness, clarity, and buoyant precision over the loose, improvisational grit often associated with American soul.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

When he noticed my approach, he locked his phone and put it on the bench beside him.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

OpenAI added that it will develop "practical approaches" to how developers and governments identify and disclose future AI incidents.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Here are some promising approaches to easing alarm fatigue:

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

"Taxi boat" refers to a dinghy that approaches the beach from the sea to pick up migrants in shallow waters off the beach.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Researchers say several approaches might help reduce these digestive changes.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

Marco only stares at her as she approaches, thinking her a dream.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Ukraine's foreign ministry declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

After the fifth controlled purchase, Paul approached the informant’s friend, the DU member who had connected the informant to Robinson.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

The Premier League declined to comment on the case when approached on Friday.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

The Irish singer told the outlet that he had approached Parton to ask her to collaborate on a different side project inspired by Irish folk music.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

If it weren’t for Ollie, I would never have approached her and Hoku.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

He said that investigating illegal hunting puts officers at risk, particularly at night, and they’re often approaching people who are armed in uneven terrain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Televised images showed bomb-disposal robots approaching three white vans, which had rear back doors opened and items scattered on the ground.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Most of those worrisome capabilities do not exist today in anything approaching their most frightening forms.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026

Meanwhile, TikTok videos of users approaching women, asking for their number and filming their reaction to pick-up lines, are often posted with the hashtag #howtogetagirlfriend and can garner thousands of views.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

She dropped to her knees in front of Håkon, frantic to hide his scales from the approaching bogatyr.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

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