ap·prox·i·mate
ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət 
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
ap·prox·i·mate
ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt
approximated; approximating
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
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
The Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms
Synonyms
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 WebUSA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Members of Vancouver's Christian community made a 25-mile solidarity march on Saturday, to match the approximate length of Gaza's Mediterranean coast.
—Kori Skillman, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The Dali has a capacity of about 10,000 20-foot equivalent units of cargo – compared to the approximate cap of about 2,500 20-foot equivalent units that could be carried by container ships in the 1970s, CNN has reported.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Because that season embodies what the Royals now hope to replicate at least in some approximate form: Texas had been 68-94 in 2022 and didn’t qualify for the playoffs until Game 161 with a wild-card berth.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
Mesa saw an approximate dip of about 8 percent in two-bedroom rates.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
Cicadas 2024 map The map below shows the approximate locations for broods emerging in 2024.
—USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024
The approximate cost ranges from $12 million to $345 million — the high end for a potential downtown location — depending on options to lease, buy or rehabilitate an available facility, according to the report.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
This artist’s conception, which is not based on any specific design for a cargo ship, is intended to show the approximate scale of such a vessel.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2024
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The result is a simple breakdown of how stablecoins are used:
Outlook and Implications
This data helps approximate stablecoin use cases and sheds new light on popular narratives in the cryptocurrency market.
—Mark Lurie, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
As a way of making some rugs more affordable, companies will blend wool with a semi-synthetic material such as viscose, which is a form of rayon that approximates the softness of silk.
—Michelle Brunner, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
To measure their relative popularity, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel collected Wikipedia pageview data over the last five years to approximate public interest in each individual.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024
The 30-year-old baker Mina Park, who owns the Brooklyn cake shop 99, approximates fondant with mochi.
—Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
But, really, most outsiders tend to meld this consortium together into something approximating Claremont-Mudd-Scripps-McKenna-Pomona-Pitzer-Keck.
—Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2024
Sora approximates continuity using a simple principle.
—Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
The city has asked translators to furnish names that are transliterated, a process that more closely approximates English pronunciations.
—Amy Qin, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The view below shows the devil comet’s approximate location in relation to the solar eclipse and other prominent planets as seen from southern Texas.
—USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Members of Vancouver's Christian community made a 25-mile solidarity march on Saturday, to match the approximate length of Gaza's Mediterranean coast.
—Kori Skillman, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The Dali has a capacity of about 10,000 20-foot equivalent units of cargo – compared to the approximate cap of about 2,500 20-foot equivalent units that could be carried by container ships in the 1970s, CNN has reported.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Because that season embodies what the Royals now hope to replicate at least in some approximate form: Texas had been 68-94 in 2022 and didn’t qualify for the playoffs until Game 161 with a wild-card berth.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
Mesa saw an approximate dip of about 8 percent in two-bedroom rates.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
Cicadas 2024 map The map below shows the approximate locations for broods emerging in 2024.
—USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024
The approximate cost ranges from $12 million to $345 million — the high end for a potential downtown location — depending on options to lease, buy or rehabilitate an available facility, according to the report.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
This artist’s conception, which is not based on any specific design for a cargo ship, is intended to show the approximate scale of such a vessel.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2024
Verb
Her singing is just as vivid and varied across the LP, with gutsy growls and breathy trills against multi-tracked harmony vocals that approximate the heavenly abundance of a gospel choir.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The result is a simple breakdown of how stablecoins are used:
Outlook and Implications
This data helps approximate stablecoin use cases and sheds new light on popular narratives in the cryptocurrency market.
—Mark Lurie, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
As a way of making some rugs more affordable, companies will blend wool with a semi-synthetic material such as viscose, which is a form of rayon that approximates the softness of silk.
—Michelle Brunner, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
To measure their relative popularity, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel collected Wikipedia pageview data over the last five years to approximate public interest in each individual.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024
The 30-year-old baker Mina Park, who owns the Brooklyn cake shop 99, approximates fondant with mochi.
—Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
But, really, most outsiders tend to meld this consortium together into something approximating Claremont-Mudd-Scripps-McKenna-Pomona-Pitzer-Keck.
—Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2024
Sora approximates continuity using a simple principle.
—Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
The city has asked translators to furnish names that are transliterated, a process that more closely approximates English pronunciations.
—Amy Qin, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
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 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
approximate
1 of 2 adjective
ap·prox·i·mate
ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət
: nearly correct or exact
the approximate cost
approximate rhyme
approximate
2 of 2 verb
ap·prox·i·mate
ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt
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
: located close together
approximate
2 of 2 transitive verb
ap·prox·i·mate
-ˌmāt
approximated; approximating
: to bring together
approximate cut edges of tissue
More from Merriam-Webster on approximate
Nglish: Translation of approximate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of approximate for Arabic Speakers
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