as in upcoming
being soon to appear or take place
the approaching holiday has everyone in a state of excitement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in coming
to come near or nearer
the parade's approaching! I can hear the band playing!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nearing
to move closer to
approach the bull with caution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in approximating
to come near or nearer to in character or quality
his store-bought dessert doesn't even approach your homemade version of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of approaching
Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
Christmas Day is fast approaching.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The Rule 5 Draft is fast approaching, marking an interesting checkpoint in the Major League Baseball offseasons.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
The deadline to file a claim in the $177 million AT&T class action settlement is fast approaching.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 3 Dec. 2025
The release of The Soccer 100, The Athletic’s definitive ranking of the greatest men’s players to have graced the beautiful game, is fast approaching, with the book available to purchase from November 18.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
The holiday season is fast approaching, and so are Amazon’s biggest savings of the year.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025
The holidays are fast approaching, and for those needing decor inspiration, the 2025 Holiday Trend Guide from Etsy is here to help.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
The holiday season is fast approaching, so now is the time to order your holiday cards.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Videos of the shooting in Minnesota showed federal agents approaching Good’s SUV stopped in the middle of a neighborhood street.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
The videos of the shooting show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
Video circulating online shows multiple law enforcement officers approaching Renee Nicole Good's SUV, which was stopped in the middle of a street, where demonstrators had gathered that morning to protest heightened immigration enforcement.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Video showed men on foot approaching a car, which attempted to drive off before an officer fired repeatedly.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
As the government shutdown lumbers into its second month, the number of flight delays at Charlotte’s airport during that time is approaching 6,000.
—Chase Jordan
updated November 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
With the holidays quickly approaching, your home is about to see more foot traffic and more festivities, which means more crumbs.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
The approaching chill is part of a low-pressure system that’s going to be moving across the eastern United States.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Christmas is fast approaching, and Kylie is still nowhere to be found.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
Christmas Day is fast approaching.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The Rule 5 Draft is fast approaching, marking an interesting checkpoint in the Major League Baseball offseasons.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
The deadline to file a claim in the $177 million AT&T class action settlement is fast approaching.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 3 Dec. 2025
The release of The Soccer 100, The Athletic’s definitive ranking of the greatest men’s players to have graced the beautiful game, is fast approaching, with the book available to purchase from November 18.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
The holiday season is fast approaching, and so are Amazon’s biggest savings of the year.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025
The holidays are fast approaching, and for those needing decor inspiration, the 2025 Holiday Trend Guide from Etsy is here to help.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
The holiday season is fast approaching, so now is the time to order your holiday cards.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
But videos captured by other observers and members of the public show an ICE agent approaching a Honda Pilot that was stopped on a snowy road and ordering the driver — later identified as Good — to open the door before grabbing the handle.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Videos of the shooting in Minnesota showed federal agents approaching Good’s SUV stopped in the middle of a neighborhood street.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
The videos of the shooting show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
Video circulating online shows multiple law enforcement officers approaching Renee Nicole Good's SUV, which was stopped in the middle of a street, where demonstrators had gathered that morning to protest heightened immigration enforcement.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Video showed men on foot approaching a car, which attempted to drive off before an officer fired repeatedly.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
As the government shutdown lumbers into its second month, the number of flight delays at Charlotte’s airport during that time is approaching 6,000.
—Chase Jordan
updated November 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
With the holidays quickly approaching, your home is about to see more foot traffic and more festivities, which means more crumbs.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
The approaching chill is part of a low-pressure system that’s going to be moving across the eastern United States.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approaching
Adjective
-
John Mulaney has postponed three upcoming shows in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.—
Amy McCarthy,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The arbitration hearing will allow for both sides to receive a specific contractual figure if no settlement is reached in the upcoming weeks.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Butler had been allowed supervised visitation every Saturday and, according to court records, was expected to gain unsupervised visitation rights in the coming weeks.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The two companies, which share similar brand- and consumer-focused philosophies, are increasingly coming into direct competition as Ralph Lauren builds in handbags, Coach’s bread-and-butter business.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Curry update Curry could be nearing a return to the court after missing the past two games with an illness that left him coughing and sneezing during his last public appearance.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Three players nearing goal scoring milestones Forward Carter Verhaeghe is one goal away from the 150th of his NHL career.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Each module covered a 36° segment of the ring, approximating the continuous boundary predicted by theory.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Dec. 2025
-
Reminiscent of Polanski’s Repulsion in its nightmarish depiction of an unraveling mind, Vicious, which was initially slated for a theatrical release but is instead streaming on Paramount+, doesn’t come close to approximating its greatness.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota developed a system that uses real-time signals to warn about impending issues.—
Michelle Fay Cortez,
Bloomberg,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, must investigate the history of the colony and attempt to save it from an impending disaster, all while struggling to survive in the harsh lunar environment devoid of oxygen.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By closing the school now, Arlington ISD would be able to keep the conversations close to home and allow parents access to those discussions.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The new year could bring changes to the shopping scene as several national chains are closing stores, potentially some in Michigan.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While interviewing the mayor, a vehicle was seen entering the property after the gate was opened.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Video surveillance footage showed the two men entering a shower, according to the affidavit.—
Lori Dunn,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Initial ground tests began in 2022, and flight trials are expected later in the decade, reflecting Seoul’s intent to field a regional deterrent amid North Korea’s missile advancements.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The film’s story emerged when the director, newly observing the bond between her two young children during the 2020 lockdown, began reflecting on sibling relationships in her own family.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approaching. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share