approximate

1 of 2

adjective

ap·​prox·​i·​mate ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət How to pronounce approximate (audio)
1
: nearly correct or exact : close in value or amount but not precise
an approximate solution
an approximate date
2
: located close together
approximate leaves

approximate

2 of 2

verb

ap·​prox·​i·​mate ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt How to pronounce approximate (audio)
approximated; approximating

transitive verb

1
: to come near to or be close to (something)
a reproduction that approximates the original
2
a
: to bring near or close
b
: to bring (cut edges of tissue) together

intransitive verb

chiefly British : to come close
usually used with to
… the pigments on a palette can only approximate to the limitless range of colour in nature.The Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms

Examples of approximate in a Sentence

Adjective This is the approximate location of the ancient city. Can you give me the approximate cost of the repair? Verb I've finally found a vegetarian burger that approximates the taste of real beef. The colors in the pictures can only approximate the real thing. an Australian who can approximate a strong New York City accent
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Mapping the isotopic signatures to their approximate geographies, Dominy and his colleagues discovered some of the animals weren’t native to Egypt, likely hailing from somewhere in the area of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia. Miriam Fauzia, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2023 That’s the approximate distance Musk traveled Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tour a kibbutz ravaged in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack. Will Oremus, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023 An approximate half-mile portion of Sheridan Road from Hawthorn Avenue to Harbor Road was closed for several hours following the incident. Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023 Google said that people using Find My Device, the software that shows the location of Android smartphones, see a one-time disclosure that the device location is approximate and might not always be accurate. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2023 Over time, a small clump grows into a thicket the approximate size of Delaware. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2023 Maps of most regions display only approximate depths and often miss entire underwater mountains or canyons. Ethan Freedman, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023 China now is working on a crewed lunar program with the approximate goal of landing its astronauts on the Moon around 2030. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Oct. 2023 The approximate dates of this internship are from January 2024 to June 2024. G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023
Verb
For context, this approximates the nation’s GDP in 2022, which was $25.46 trillion, as stated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Caleb Richter, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The scientists approximated the effects of mining by pumping sediment into the jellies’ tanks, essentially asking how the animals would cope with the muddy water. Kate Golembiewski, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023 Goldberg also replaced missing feathers, using those from ducks and geese that had been colored to approximate a pigeon’s. Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Nov. 2023 Researchers from Peru, Poland and Sweden created a lifelike silicone model of her face that approximates the girl’s appearance at the time of her death, according to an announcement from the Catholic University of Santa María in Peru, where Juanita is displayed. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023 Underground pipes will deliver blasts of air that can approximate wind, steam, raindrops or various smells, such as roses, forests or chocolate chip cookies. Katherine Rosman, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 This ring means something to me: To my mental health, my peace of mind, the never-ending art of approximating balance. Erika Veurink, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2023 Human feedback is what allows today’s chatbots to approximate turn-by-turn conversation, rather than just providing a single response. Cade Metz, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023 Head to the gym midday and approximate the magic morning routine at noon. Sherry Walling, Fortune Well, 15 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'approximate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare to come near, from Latin ad- + proximare to come near — more at proximate

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of approximate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near approximate

Cite this Entry

“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approximate. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

approximate

1 of 2 adjective
ap·​prox·​i·​mate ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət How to pronounce approximate (audio)
: nearly correct or exact
the approximate cost
approximate rhyme

approximate

2 of 2 verb
ap·​prox·​i·​mate ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt How to pronounce approximate (audio)
approximated; approximating
1
: to bring near or close
2
: to come near in position, value, or characteristics : approach
tried to approximate the singer's style

Medical Definition

approximate

1 of 2 adjective
ap·​prox·​i·​mate ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət How to pronounce approximate (audio)
: located close together

approximate

2 of 2 transitive verb
ap·​prox·​i·​mate -ˌmāt How to pronounce approximate (audio)
approximated; approximating
: to bring together
approximate cut edges of tissue
approximation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on approximate

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