to approach
- verb
- /əˈproʊtʃ/
- I decided to approach my neighbor for help with my garden project.
- approach a woman
- approach students
- approach a family
So they're not going to approach him, right?
- So they're not going to approach him, right?
- Number two, don't approach their family or their friends.
- But they actually approach clients with the options.
- So again, she's still being approached by the wrong men.
- You know, they approach you for, if you will, an investment.
- And they're like, that really worked to approach her at the right time of her cycle.
- Well, Hewell approached me because the CEO loves my podcast.
- And that might dictate if they do approach you, how they will approach you, OK?
Examples
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Eighty-one percent of the students reported feeling confident approaching patients in the hospital once they had done so.
Academic text (2011) -
Rather, it's their attitude and the way they approach their writing careers.
Academic text (2011) -
But they actually approach clients with the options.
-
You know, they approach you for, if you will, an investment.
-
Who would like to approach first?
-
You always talked about how you liked the kind of man who could approach you, speak his mind.
-
It is so refreshing to have somebody approach education so rationally.
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After researching popular performers in Ghana, we approached individuals and conducted interviews to select the participants.
Academic text (2011) -
Gallagher has convinced bookstores to carry her title by approaching them personally. Less cachet, possibly more money.
Academic text (2011) -
She hesitated before approaching her boss to request a raise.
Synonyms
To request information or an answer from someone
To communicate with someone by phone or writing
To ask for something politely or formally
To speak to someone directly, especially to ask a question
To ask someone to take action or give information, often in a meeting
To get in touch with someone after a time without talking
To ask people for something, often in a formal or persistent way
Go up to someone and speak to them in a bold or aggressive way
Ask someone in a serious, emotional way to do something
To ask someone very strongly for something
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 Direct
Surface Forms
Etymology
Approach comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and prope 'near', so it once meant to 'go toward' someone. That is why to approach a person can mean to go and speak to them with a question or offer.