approximate

verb

ap·​prox·​i·​mate ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt 

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.

—Kimberly Reynolds with Richard Seddon

Synonyms of approximate

• reflect
• match
• measure up (to)
• compare (with)
• approach

Examples of approximate in a Sentence

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

The grant amount—$25,000—was set to approximate the average annual cost of full-time childcare in New York City. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026

The National Football League, for all its flaws, understands the commercial necessity of approximating fairness. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

In the end, those are just measurements and illustrations that approximate the thing itself. —Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Enlarging the circle improves accuracy by better approximating a true circle. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for approximate

• proximate

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

approximation

ə-ˌpräk-sə-ˈmā-shən 

noun