Trivia Time

Which fictional character is known for having a clumsy romantic approach?

Test Your Knowledge

approach

American  

[uh-prohch] / əˈproʊtʃ /

verb (used with object)

• approaches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• approached,
  past participle,  past
• approaching
  present participle

1. to come near or nearer to.

   The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.

   Synonyms:

   near

2. to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison.

   As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.

3. to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to.

   to approach the president with a suggestion.

4. to begin work on; set about.

   to approach a problem.

5. to make advances to; address.

6. to bring near to something.

   Antonyms:

   withdraw

---

verb (used without object)

• approaches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• approached,
  past participle,  past
• approaching
  present participle

1. to come nearer; draw near.

   A storm is approaching.

2. to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.

noun

• approaches
  plural

1. the act of drawing near.

   the approach of a train.

2. nearness or close approximation.

   a fair approach to accuracy.

3. any means of access, as a road or ramp.

   the approaches to a city.

4. the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc..

   His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.

5. 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.

6. Sometimes approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.

7. Military. approaches, works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.

8. Also called approach shot.  Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.

9. Bowling.

   1. the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball.

      He favors a four-step approach.

   2. Also called runway.  the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.

approach British  

/ əˈprəʊtʃ /

verb

1. to come nearer in position, time, quality, character, etc, to (someone or something)

2. (tr) to make advances to, as with a proposal, suggestion, etc

3. (tr) to begin to deal with

   to approach a problem

4. rare (tr) to cause to come near

---

noun

1. the act of coming towards or drawing close or closer

2. a close approximation

3. the way or means of entering or leaving; access

4. (often plural) an advance or overture to a person

5. a means adopted in tackling a problem, job of work, etc

6. Also called: approach path.  the course followed by an aircraft preparing for landing

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• approacher
  noun
• reapproach
  verb
• approachless
  adjective
• unapproached
  adjective
• unapproaching
  adjective
• well-approached
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• approaches
  plural

Participles

• approaching
  present
• approached
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• approach
  simple
• approaches
  simple
• have approached
  perfect
• has approached
  perfect
• am approaching
  progressive
• are approaching
  progressive
• is approaching
  progressive
• have been approaching
  perfect progressive
• has been approaching
  perfect progressive

Past

• approached
  simple
• had approached
  perfect
• was approaching
  progressive
• were approaching
  progressive
• had been approaching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will approach
  simple
• will have approached
  perfect
• will be approaching
  progressive
• will have been approaching
  perfect progressive

Etymology

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- ( def. ), propinquity ( def. )

Explanation

To approach is to get near something. An airplane is cleared for a final approach just as the wheels approach the landing strip. Approach comes from the Latin word appropriare which means "go nearer to." You can physically approach something, like a waiter going to a table. Or, you can approach a subject, usually one you're a little nervous about — like a new employee might approach her boss about getting a raise. Time can also approach, like winter, midnight, or even old age.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

approach approaches approached approaching

Seth Guikema, a climate resiliency researcher at the University of Michigan and one of the 48 US researchers relocating to Canada, said he decided to approach Canadian institutions last year in search of opportunities.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

It was the opposite of the bond market’s reaction following his press conference in July that fueled concerns about Warsh’s approach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

In his first year in office, more than one civil liberties advocate has taken issue with his approach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

You have experienced some sharp practice, and you need a blunt approach.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026

I didn’t have Samir’s shameless approach of inviting myself into the lives of others.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

"Given the nature of the terminal and uncurable medical condition of Mr. Mladic and his short-term life expectancy, continued detention serves no legitimate purpose, and approaches inhuman treatment and punishment," his team argued.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

His prudent approach is to avoid a single grand plan and embrace a multifaceted strategy that borrows pertinent insights from a variety of approaches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

One of the more extreme approaches to dramatically cutting living expenses is to retire abroad, which is what we did in 2010 when we moved to Cuenca, Ecuador.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Court premises in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, and elsewhere have been shut as the deadline for filing a petition against the outcome of the recent presidential election approaches.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Nyla approaches me, her eyes watching me curiously.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

The partnership with the port began when Bluecore Energy approached the port to lease space.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

In central Leobersdorf, locals approached by AFP had either not heard about the development or did not want to talk about it.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Carse has been approached for a response, while the ECB has not commented.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

As the big day approached, Aschenbrenner’s friends, former colleagues and fellow members of the Silicon Valley intelligentsia filtered into the wedding hotel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

I groaned as Frederick and his brother Bruno approached with menacing grins on their faces.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

The sea surface temperature at the Scripps Pier in La Jolla hit 76.8 degrees Thursday, approaching a daily record of 77 degrees set in 2015.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Early in the film, Billy tells Kris that she’s approaching her reboot of the in-film “Miasma” franchise “too academically.”

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

With deadline day approaching on 1 September, the war of words continues and the Argentine World Cup winner's future remains one of the biggest talking points of the transfer window.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

A fast-moving wildfire was approaching Reno, Nev., on Sunday, with authorities urging nearly 90,000 people to evacuate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

What woke me was the hum of an approaching motor.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• attitude
• concept
• idea
• manner
• means
• method
• mode
• procedure
• program
• style
• technique
• way