approach

[ uh-prohch ]

/ əˈproʊtʃ /

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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.

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Origin of approach

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English a(p)prochen < Anglo-French, Old French a(p)rocher < Late Latin adpropiāre, verbal derivative, with ad- ad-, of Latin propius nearer (comparative of prope near), replacing Latin appropinquāre; (noun) late Middle English approche, derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR approach

1 near, close with.

3 sound out.

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ANTONYMS FOR approach

6 withdraw.

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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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for approached

The cops climbed out and approached the man who remained in the street.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Wahlberg fled from the scene and approached a bystander, Hoa Trinh, also Vietnamese.
Mark Wahlberg’s Pardon Plea: A Look Back At His Troubling, Violent, and Racist Rap Sheet|Marlow Stern|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At 4:45 p.m., he was approached by Justin Damico, a plainclothes cop, and another officer, Daniel Pantaleo, outside the store.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio Raheem|Marlow Stern|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For one man, it was the first time he had ever approached a woman.
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc|Brandy Zadrozny|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the fall, I received a Rhodes Scholarship—I approached arrogance.
‘Why Have I Lost Control?’: Cory Booker in ’92 on Rodney King Echoes Ferguson|Cory Booker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fan looked at her and shrunk away as she approached, and then turned her eyes, dilating again with fear, towards the door.
Fan|W.H. Hudson (AKA Henry Harford)
Dropping his rifle, he approached his dog with outstretched arms.
The Whelps of the Wolf|George Marsh
The battalions which they approached scared them away by shouts, until the unlucky beasts knew not which way to turn.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 373, November 1846|Various
As they approached the house the children who had been left at home came running out to greet them with joyous shouts of welcome.
The Land of Lure|Elliott Smith
During the same day (10th), the British captured Proyart and approached Chaulnes.
Amiens Before and During the War|Michelin & Cie

British Dictionary definitions for approached

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

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approach

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Origin of approach

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British Dictionary definitions for approached

verb

noun

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MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

approach

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

QUIZZES

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Origin of approach

SYNONYMS FOR approach

ANTONYMS FOR approach

OTHER WORDS FROM approach

Words nearby approach

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Example sentences from the Web for approached

British Dictionary definitions for approached

verb

noun

Word Origin for approach