approximate
Americanadjective
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near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard.
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nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct.
The approximate time was 10 o'clock.
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near; close together.
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very similar; nearly identical.
verb (used with object)
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to come near to; approach closely to.
to approximate an ideal.
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to estimate.
We approximated the distance at three miles.
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to simulate; imitate closely.
The motions of the stars can be approximated in a planetarium.
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to bring near.
verb (used without object)
adjective
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almost accurate or exact
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inexact; rough; loose
only an approximate fit
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much alike; almost the same
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near; close together
verb
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(usually foll by to) to come or bring near or close; be almost the same (as)
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maths to find an expression for (some quantity) accurate to a specified degree See accurate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of approximate
1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin approximātus drawn near to, approached (past participle of approximāre ). See ap- 1, proximate
Explanation
To approximate is to calculate the value of something based on informed knowledge. A computer program can approximate the value of a house based on square footage, number of rooms, year built, and other relevant factors. As a verb, approximate means "to estimate." Unlike the word guess, approximate implies the use of a logical or mathematical method. You might guess how tall a friend is based on the first number that comes to mind, but you could approximate his height by using your own height as a comparison. As an adjective, approximate can mean "near" or "close together." If your friend calls to say he’s at a location approximate to your house, she’s in your neighborhood.
Vocabulary lists containing approximate
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 1
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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.
The genetically modified mice lived healthier lives and had an approximate 4.4 percent increase in median lifespan compared with ordinary mice.
From Science Daily • May 10, 2026
Intel’s outlook is improving due to renewed semiconductor strength and the U.S. government’s approximate 10% stake.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
That’s the approximate weight of a Ford F-150, the most popular car in the U.S., depending on the specifications—roughly double the weight of the Dacia Sandero, Europe’s best-selling car.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
The impressive gray whales have the longest annual migration of any mammal, travelling an approximate 15,000-20,000km roundtrip to breed.
From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026
At this point, with the search for sunken vessels still in its infancy, Throckmorton was among the world’s greatest experts in dating the approximate age of a shipwreck.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
