approach
verb (used with object)
to come near or nearer to.
were approaching
-
past progressiveof approach.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
This spring, executives at Clorox said that though they were considering pricing changes, they were approaching the idea with “a high level of discipline and caution.”
From The Wall Street Journal β Sep. 15, 2026
Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, which is mediating between Iran and the United States, said Tuesday on X that efforts to end the war were "approaching a critical, sensitive stage", without giving details.
From Barron's β Apr. 7, 2026
It was interesting for each artist, because they were approaching it in a different way.
From Salon β Mar. 21, 2025
"When the teams were approaching development, they weren't thinking about the hardware," he said.
From BBC β Feb. 1, 2025
The smell hit them when the wind shifted, just as they were approaching the first buildings, small huts made of logs with thatched roofs.
From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner
