approach
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.
to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.
to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
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.
Origin of approach
1Other words for approach
| 1 | near, close with |
| 3 | sound out |
Opposites for approach
Other words from approach
- ap·proach·er, noun
- ap·proach·less, adjective
- re·ap·proach, verb
- un·ap·proached, adjective
- un·ap·proach·ing, adjective
- well-ap·proached, adjective
Words Nearby approach
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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.
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 NewsHe 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 DiegoEstablish 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 ReviewAt 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 | THE DAILY BEASTLike any good marketer, Silverman says he has sales figures proving his approach is working.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTThis 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 | THE DAILY BEASTBut 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 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 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. BallantyneGaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after his handmaid, and approach not her bed.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThere seemed the flavour of some strange authority in her that baffled all approach to the former intimacy.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodHe that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousPerhaps 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
/ (əˈprəʊtʃ) /
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 with: to approach a problem
(tr) rare to cause to come near
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
Origin of approach
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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