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approach definition

ap·proach (ə prōc̸h′)

intransitive verb

to come closer or draw nearer

Etymology: ME aprochen < OFr aprochier < LL(Ec) appropiare < L ad-, to + propius, compar. of prope, near

transitive verb

  1. to come near or nearer to
  2. to be like or similar to; approximate
  3. to make advances, a proposal, or a request to
  4. to begin dealing with to approach a task

noun

  1. a coming closer or drawing nearer
  2. an approximation or similarity
  3. an advance or overture (to someone): usually used in pl.
  4. a path, road, or other means of reaching a person or place; access
  5. a means of attaining a goal or purpose let's take a new approach to the problem
  6. Aeron. the act of bringing an aircraft into position for landing, bombing a target, etc.
  7. Golf a shot from the fairway, meant to hit the ball onto the putting green

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

approach Synonyms

approach

n.

  1. A means of access

    path, way, road, passageway; see entrance 2, road 1.

  2. Plan of action

    method, program, procedure, strategy; see method 2, plan 2.

  3. The act of coming near or on

    coming, advance, advent, arrival, access, appearance, oncoming, reaching, landing, approaching, nearing, act of drawing near, coming nearer, accession.

  4. Overture; usually plural

    proposal, offer, proposition; see proposal 1, suggestion 1.


approach

v.

  1. To approach personally

    appeal to, apply to, address, speak to, talk to, propose, request, accost, direct oneself to, make advances to, make overtures to, take aside, talk to in private, buttonhole*, corner*, descend on*, descend upon*, sound out*. *

    Antonyms avoid*, shun*, turn away.

  2. To come near in space

    near, come near, come nearer, go toward, move toward, drift toward, come up to, step up to, roll up to, advance, loom up, creep up, drive up, verge upon, draw near, go near, converge on, advance on, gain on, come into sight, progress, close in, surround, come forward, come closer, catch up to, overtake, bear down on, edge up to, ease up to, head into.

    Antonyms leave*, recede*, depart. *

  3. To come near in time

    be imminent, be forthcoming, threaten, slip by, loom (up), await, near, draw near, impend, diminish, decrease, grow short, stare one in the face*, be around the corner*.

    Antonyms recede, extend, stretch out.

  4. To approximate

    come close to, approximate, compare; see equal, resemble.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

approach Usage Examples

Object

  • retirement: If your adviser is a one-man band approaching retirement, you will need to know who will step into their shoes.

Converse of object

  • adopt: Cornwall was one of the first counties in the UK to adopt this action plan approach.

Adjective modifier

  • holistic: In short we suggest that a more holistic approach to the evaluation of these packages is needed.

Preposition: with

  • caution: Some Members felt that method ( a ) was difficult and that studies should be approached with caution.

Noun used with modifier

  • participatory: We do this through participatory approaches that put poor people at the center of decision making.
approach usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

approach quotes

We had the experience but missed the meaning, And approach to the meaning restores the experience In a different form, beyond any meaning We can assign to happiness.

-Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

Upon those that step into the same rivers different and different waters flow. They scatter and gather, come together and flow away, approach and depart.

-Heraclitus   fl.500

We had a two-track approach, one political and the other military, and the military was designed to move us along the political track.

-McNamara, Robert Strange

approach quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"approach." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/approach>

APA Style

approach. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/approach

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