to approach
- verb
- /əˈproʊtʃ/
- After all, America's public debt is now approaching 100 percent of GDP.
- approach the end
- fast approaching
- time is approaching
YouTube right now, I think is approaching this incredible golden age.
- YouTube right now, I think is approaching this incredible golden age.
- You start to approach that sort of almost failure point.
- No, but am I gonna approach a billion views soon?
Examples
-
With the drawdown approaching, the task will be to do all this faster.
Academic text (2011) -
Day by day, the people's strong dissatisfaction approaches an increasingly critical state.
Academic text (1990) -
Like how do you approach a goal that massive?
-
You start to approach that sort of almost failure point.
-
This war is already approaching the end of the second year.
-
So we're approaching the end of the day.
-
Another army is approaching us from the west.
-
At that time, she was approaching a turning point without realizing it herself.
Academic text (1999) -
As the parliamentary elections approach this fall, leaders of the Brotherhood are therefore highly confident about their chances.
Academic text (2011) -
As the deadline for the project approaches, we need to focus on completing our tasks.
Synonyms
Move closer to someone or something
To move closer in place or time
Move nearer to someone or something
To be near in time and about to happen
Antonyms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
The route a plane follows when going down to land, especially the last part before it touches the ground
A calm and sensible way of thinking in difficult or stressful situations
- Archaic
A way of doing something that avoids a direct answer or clear action
A way of doing things that encourages competition and rewards only the strongest
A policy that prefers talks and peaceful solutions instead of force in foreign or economic affairs
- Specialized
A business method that sells many different products to small groups instead of a few big markets
- Formal
A way of studying many things that makes differences seem very large
A way of doing things that includes many cultures in schools and communities
- Offensive
A way of supporting freedom that looks simple but ignores real problems
- Specialized
A way controllers use radar to guide pilots by radio to land in low visibility
- Specialized
An approach that studies each person or case in detail to understand their unique experience
- Slang
A personal, creative way of thinking often used by people with autism or ADHD
- Formal
A way of arguing that acts doubtful but does not check new evidence fairly
- Informal
A different, slightly strange way of doing something to get new ideas
- Archaic
A style of rule like the Pope's with strong central control and religious power
- Literature
A focus on small local issues and interests instead of wider public needs
An aggressive, unfair way of trying to gain an advantage over others in business
- Jargon
A person who appears briefly, makes quick changes, and gives no further help
- Specialized
A Buddhist way of thinking that teaches letting go of attachments to find inner calm
- Literature
A strict, unfair way of leading that does not allow people to disagree
How Close
Surface Forms
Etymology
Approach comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and prope 'near', so it originally meant 'come near'. That is why we say a deadline or season approaches when it is coming nearer in time.