Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

approximately

American  
[uh-prok-suh-mit-lee] / əˈprɒk sə mɪt li /

adverb

  1. about; roughly; more or less.

    It’s approximately 25 miles from here to El Paso.

    Add approximately 2 cups of milk or water.


approximately British  
/ əˈprɒksɪmɪtlɪ /

adverb

  1. close to; around; roughly or in the region of

"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

Etymology

Origin of approximately

First recorded in 1845–50; approximate ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Our research presents the clearest understanding of the landscape upon which the ancient Egyptians founded their temple at Karnak approximately 4000 years ago," says Dr. Angus Graham, Uppsala University, who led the team.

From Science Daily

The South American country has approximately 303 billion barrels worth of crude, accounting for about 20% of the world's oil resources, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

From BBC

Wall Street projects approximately 15% earnings growth for the S&P 500 in 2026, but earnings growth doesn’t guarantee market gains.

From Barron's

Despite recent gains, Bitcoin has lost approximately one-third of its value since its October record high above $125,000.

From Barron's

The 17-year-old Pliny was at Misenum, approximately 18 miles from the volcano, but even there “you could hear the wailing of women, the cries of babies, the shouting of men.”

From The Wall Street Journal