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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use approach in a sentence

It was in many ways a major departure from their typical approach to their craft.
BTS’s new album is sublime comfort pop for the soul in lockdown|Aja Romano|November 20, 2020|Vox
It’s a well-worn approach historians have used to describe Glenn for almost half a century.
Another look at John Glenn through a heroic lens|Francis French|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
She said a more comprehensive and seamless approach to that regulation would allow for more solutions and innovations.
The cashless economy: How fintech is approaching the future of finance|McKenna Moore|November 19, 2020|Fortune
I think there’s likely to be a hybrid approach with cohorts coming in to work on projects that will keep the buildings being used.
Amazon update: Second headquarters development and the area’s housing market|Michele Lerner|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Its existence strikes at two conflicting urges — wanting to see the vulnerable people in our lives and wanting to keep them safe — that have pulled at so many of us during this pandemic and now feel amplified as the holidays approach.
A 28-year-old ‘nerd’ in Baltimore invented a new type of mask, and tapped into the strangeness of this 2020 holiday season|Theresa Vargas|November 18, 2020|Washington Post
The younger man rolled down his window to receive the approaching Williams “to see what he wanted.”
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the harsh Middle Eastern winter approaching fast, what people in Syria and Iraq need most, in fact, is humanitarian support.
Dutch Biker Gangs Vs. ISIS|Nadette De Visser, Christopher Dickey|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In it, Weber suggested approaching a woman with lines like: “Excuse me, but you look beautiful.”
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc|Brandy Zadrozny|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But so many years later, I still get a tense feeling in my stomach when I see a strong storm approaching.
Heed the Warnings: Why We’re on the Brink of Mass Extinction|Sean B. Carroll|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On September 26, officers were targeted after approaching a car, driven by McGee, and fired at the driver.
The 14 Teens Killed by Cops Since Michael Brown|Nina Strochlic|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
William has thus been happily able to report to the society the approaching conversion of M'Bongo and his imminent civilization.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
In diabetes its presence is a grave symptom and often forewarns of approaching coma.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
But in August, 1805, the approaching war with Austria caused the Emperor to summon his most brilliant cavalry leader to his side.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It happened that an unusually large crop had been planted and was approaching maturity at the moment of the outbreak of the war.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Approaching a native hut to ask for a piece of charcoal wherewith to light a cigar, he happened to look inside.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

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 related to approach

How to use approach in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for approach

Word Origin for approach