Synonyms of approaching

approaching 1 of 2

adjective

as in upcoming

being soon to appear or take place

the approaching holiday has everyone in a state of excitement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• upcoming
• coming
• impending
• nearing
• to come
• imminent
• oncoming
• forthcoming
• at hand
• on hand
• future
• proximate
• pending
• on tap
• anticipated
• predicted
• awaited
• expected
• foreseen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recent
• late
• past
• other
• sometime
• old
• former
• foregone
• bygone
• erstwhile
• onetime
• whilom
• quondam

approaching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of approach

1

as in coming

to come near or nearer

the parade's approaching! I can hear the band playing!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coming
• closing
• nearing
• arriving
• reaching
• drawing on
• coming up
• closing in
• attaining
• hitting
• landing
• nighing
• bellying up
• gaining
• making
• bordering
• verging
• showing up
• turning up
• touching
• adjoining
• creeping up
• waltzing (up)
• sneaking up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• retreating
• withdrawing
• receding
• retiring
• backing (up or away)
• leaving
• going
• exiting
• removing
• departing
• quitting
• running away
• pulling out
• walking out
• taking off
• shoving (off)
• clearing out
• lighting out

2

as in nearing

to move closer to

approach the bull with caution

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coming
• nearing
• entering
• advancing
• nighing
• dropping in
• popping (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• going
• withdrawing
• retreating
• leaving
• departing
• receding (from)
• exiting

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

• approximating
• reflecting
• comparing (with)
• matching
• measuring up (to)
• stacking up (against or with)
• mirroring
• paralleling
• holding a candle to
• amounting (to)
• coming (to)
• adding up (to)
• duplicating
• equaling
• touching (on)
• bordering (on)
• verging (on)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of approaching

Adjective

With fireworks season fast approaching, there's no better time than now to get your pet fast and reliable support before anxiety hits hardest. — Jessica Moore, USA Today, 29 June 2026

And June 30 is fast approaching. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026

Wetterberg's due date is fast approaching, and the mom-to-be celebrated her baby shower with some of her closest friends over the weekend. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

In fact, most of them have deadlines that are fast approaching. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 June 2026

Summer House usually starts filming on the 4th of July, which is fast approaching. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 18 June 2026

Amazon Prime Day sale is fast approaching, but these early tech discounts have started the party early. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026

The toughest decision of the Sparks’ season to date is fast approaching. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding day is rapidly approaching—and according to one wedding planner, the nuptials may end up costing them $20 million. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 10 June 2026

Verb

The Forest Service began increasingly approaching the tribe for help. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Messi and the team also celebrated by hugging one another and approaching fans in the stands, waving and cheering with them. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026

Each brand is approaching the opportunity differently and to sit within brand tone of voice. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Footage shows a sergeant approaching Williams, who is sitting. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

The fire’s footprint is approaching the size of Denver, which is a little over 153 square miles, and remains the seventh-largest in Colorado history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 July 2026

Reuniting with longtime collaborator Jake Schreier and writing alongside The Bear‘s Joanna Calo, Lee said the team is approaching the iconic mutants by putting their humanity ahead of spectacle. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 July 2026

With two or three roster spots still to fill for next season, the Heat is also on its way to approaching the first apron of $209 million. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

I'mPhaedra Trethan, getting set to sweat with forecast temperatures approaching 100 degrees in South Jersey. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 1 July 2026