approach

[ uh-prohch ]

/ əˈproʊtʃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR approach ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to come near or nearer to: The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.

to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison: As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.

to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to: to approach the president with a suggestion.

to begin work on; set about: to approach a problem.

to make advances to; address.

to bring near to something.

verb (used without object)

to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.

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

noun

the act of drawing near: the approach of a train.

nearness or close approximation: a fair approach to accuracy.

any means of access, as a road or ramp: the approaches to a city.

the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc.: His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.

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.

Sometimes approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.

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

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

Bowling.

the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball: He favors a four-step approach.
Also called runway. the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.

Origin of approach

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English a(p)prochen < Anglo-French, Old French a(p)rocher < Late Latin adpropiāre, verbal derivative, with ad- ad-, of Latin propius nearer (comparative of prope near), replacing Latin appropinquāre; (noun) late Middle English approche, derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR approach

1 near, close with.

3 sound out.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR approach ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR approach

6 withdraw.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR approach ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM approach

ap·proach·er, noun ap·proach·less, adjective re·ap·proach, verb un·ap·proached, adjective

un·ap·proach·ing, adjective well-ap·proached, adjective

Words nearby approach

appressed, appressorium, apprise, apprize, appro, approach, approach light, approach shot, approachable, approbate, approbation

Example sentences from the Web for approaching

The younger man rolled down his window to receive the approaching Williams “to see what he wanted.”

Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault |M.L. Nestel |December 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
With the harsh Middle Eastern winter approaching fast, what people in Syria and Iraq need most, in fact, is humanitarian support.

Dutch Biker Gangs Vs. ISIS |Nadette De Visser, Christopher Dickey |December 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
On September 26, officers were targeted after approaching a car, driven by McGee, and fired at the driver.

The 14 Teens Killed by Cops Since Michael Brown |Nina Strochlic |November 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
A burst of machine-gun fire blew off the wall of a nearby building—the commandos were approaching.

‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis |Nina Strochlic |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But it also sharpens the clash between two very ways of approaching history.

God vs. the Internet. And the Winner is… |Michael Schulson |November 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
On approaching the shore, three flags are observed to be flying in the town.

Journal of an African Cruiser |Horatio Bridge
Ominous sounds indicated that the fire was approaching on the right.

The History of the Fifty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers |David Lathrop
"Good-morning, mistress," said he familiarly, approaching Madame Desvarennes.

Serge Panine, Complete |Georges Ohnet
More exactly, since the real direction of the star is unchanged, the sun seems to be approaching the star.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India |R. V. Russell
At last there could be no longer any doubt that the end was approaching.

Makers of Modern Medicine |James J. Walsh

British Dictionary definitions for approaching

approach

/ (əˈprəʊtʃ) /

verb

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

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

(tr) to begin to deal with to approach a problem

(tr) rare to cause to come near

noun

the act of coming towards or drawing close or closer

a close approximation

the way or means of entering or leaving; access

(often plural) an advance or overture to a person

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

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

Word Origin for approach

C14: from Old French aprochier, from Late Latin appropiāre to draw near, from Latin prope near

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

approach

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of approach

SYNONYMS FOR approach

ANTONYMS FOR approach

OTHER WORDS FROM approach

Words nearby approach

Example sentences from the Web for approaching

British Dictionary definitions for approaching

verb

noun

Word Origin for approach

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

approach

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of approach

SYNONYMS FOR approach

ANTONYMS FOR approach

OTHER WORDS FROM approach

Words nearby approach

Words related to approaching

Example sentences from the Web for approaching

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verb

noun

Word Origin for approach

British Dictionary definitions for approaching