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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.

Of the total, approximately $1.1tn would be in discretionary spending for the Pentagon, the highest on record.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

According to the CalSTRS website, approximately 10% of a California educator’s gross annual compensation is invested into CalSTRS’ pension fund.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The coming mission is intended to last approximately 10 days, and will mark the first crewed Artemis flight.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

As of May 2025, the company employed approximately 162,000 employees, according to its most recent 10-K filing.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

More security guards arrived, until approximately fifteen men surrounded the former chess champion in a grim, silent circle.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.