approach

1 of 2

verb

ap·​proach ə-ˈprōch 

approached; approaching; approaches

transitive verb

1

a

: to draw closer to : near

approach a destination

b

: to come very near to : to be almost the same as

… its mathematics approaches mysticism.

—Theodore Sturgeon

as the quantity x approaches zero

2

a

: to make advances to especially in order to create a desired result

was approached by several Broadway producers

b

: to take preliminary steps toward accomplishment or full knowledge or experience of

Try to approach the subject with an open mind.

intransitive verb

1

: to draw nearer

The time is fast approaching.

2

: to make an approach in golf

approach

2 of 2

noun

plural approaches

1

a

: an act or instance of approaching

the approach of summer

b

: approximation

In this book he makes his closest approach to greatness.

2

a

: the taking of preliminary steps toward a particular purpose

experimenting with new lines of approach

b

: a particular manner of taking such steps

a highly individual approach to language

3

: a means of access : avenue

4

a

or approach shot : a golf shot from the fairway toward the green

b

: the steps taken by a bowler before delivering the ball

also : the part of the alley behind the foul line from which the bowler delivers the ball

5

: the descent of an aircraft toward a landing place

The plane was on final approach.

6

: the surgical procedure or path by which access is gained to a bodily part

A lateral approach was used to direct a 25-gauge, 10-cm spinal needle onto the articular pillar adjacent to the target joint.

—Leslie Barnsley et al.

Synonyms

Verb

• belly up
• close
• close in
• come up
• draw on
• near
• nigh

Noun

• avenue
• passage
• path
• route
• way

Examples of approach in a Sentence

Verb

The cat approached the baby cautiously.

Ease off the gas pedal to slow down as the bend in the road approaches.

We are approaching the end of the fiscal year.

This weekend we're expecting temperatures approaching 100 degrees.

The success rates approach 90 percent.

He has a wild laugh that sometimes approaches hysteria.

a reproduction that approaches the quality of the original painting

The supervisor is quite easy to approach, so don't hesitate to bring up any problems you have.

We were advised to never be too aggressive when approaching a potential client.

Noun

trying a more healthy approach

The cat made a cautious approach.

The quiet afternoon was interrupted by the approach of a motorboat.

A loud growl warned us of the bear's approach.

With the approach of summer came longer, hotter days.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Have upfront conversations that discuss your inclusion journey and approach and ask the reviewer about experiences and commitment to inclusion work the company is undertaking. —Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

And with 2024 fast approaching, the issue doesn't appear to be going anywhere. —Shawna Mizelle, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2023

But on Saturday, after Lynne Schmidt shared the anecdote on X about her dog Zoë being approached by a 3-year-old at a dog-friendly sporting goods store, the floodgates opened online. —Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2023

These show that ByteDance is approaching Facebook owner Meta in term of revenue. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023

And many simply cannot fathom a return to the pre-COVID status quo, changing how companies approach their staffing needs. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023

As dusk approached and faced with no food and inadequate clothing due to the freezing temperatures, the fatigued family called 911, per authorities. —David Chiu, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023

Barzilai says that there are three main ways that longevity researchers are approaching their field. —Ali Finney, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023

Just shy of four decades later, history repeated itself when Karl-Friedrich’s heir Karl-Fritz Scheufele approached his father about a new reinterpretation of the St. Moritz’s sporty aesthetics. —Nick Scott, Robb Report, 16 Nov. 2023

Noun

Finding the perfect audience is a universal approach to establishing a position of influence on social media using content to collect data. —John Edmonds Kozma, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

Its closest point of approach to IKE was approximately 1,500 yards. —Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 29 Nov. 2023

Some users set up their Tado devices to make regular use of smart features and also apply manual adjustments when needed—around 20 percent of users in Tado’s key European markets take this approach, says Dennis Scollar, product manager. —Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2023

At some point during postproduction on the ambitious superhero ensemble, Warners began to lose faith in Snyder’s instincts, pushing him to pivot toward a more Marvel-ous tone and approach. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2023

Similarly, as the computer scientist Yoshua Bengio has pointed out, an A.I. tasked with stopping climate change might conclude that the most efficient approach is to decimate the human population. —Paul Bloom, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2023

To get a sense of how much upheaval this change would cause, consider that late in 2022 the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas introduced a new mathematical modeling approach for bluefin tuna. —Karen Pinchin, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023

All artists who were nominated in one of the subordinate categories were automatically nominated there — an unusual approach for an award show to take. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 29 Nov. 2023

Documentary is a traditionally hands-off approach where the videographer will not stage any moments. —Shelby Wax, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English approchen, from Anglo-French aprocher, from Late Latin appropiare, from Latin ad- + prope near; akin to Latin pro before — more at for

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing approach

• approach shot

• approach shot

Kids Definition

approach

1 of 2 verb

ap·​proach ə-ˈprōch 

1

: to come near or nearer

2

: to begin to deal with

approach a problem

approach

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of approaching

2

: a beginning step toward an end

3

: way of dealing with something

try a new approach

4

: a way (as a path or road) to get to some place

Medical Definition

approach

noun

ap·​proach ə-ˈprōch 

: the surgical procedure by which access is gained to a bodily part