approach

Fetched 2026-10-29 (live).

Synonyms: happroach, reproach, abroach, accroach, appeach, reapproach, proach

Antonyms: happroach, reproach, abroach, accroach, appeach, reapproach, proach

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Verb

1. To come or go near, in place or time; to move toward; to advance nearer; to draw nigh.
   • She approached the door cautiously.
   • We were approached by a stranger asking for directions.
   • The deadline is fast approaching.
2. To play an approach shot.
3. Used intransitively, followed by to: to draw near (to someone or something); to make advances; to approximate or become almost equal.
   • He approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.
4. Of an immovable object or a number of such objects: to be positioned as to (notionally) appear to be moving towards (a place).
   • As we drove along the driveway, the trees approaching the house seemed more eerie.
5. To move toward (someone or something) in place, time, character, or value; to draw nearer to.
   • “Would counsel please approach the bench?” asked the judge.
   • He approached the age of manhood.
6. To bring (something) near something else; to cause (something) to draw near.
7. Used when defining limits, preceded by as: To become arbitrarily close to some value, be it a number, vector or infinity and have an effect on another value.
8. To attempt to make (a policy) or solve (a problem).
9. To bring up or propose to (someone) an idea, question, request, etc.
10. To have sexual intercourse with (someone).
11. To take approaches to (a place); to move towards (a place) by using covered roads, trenches, or other works.

Noun

1. An act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or coming near.
2. An act of coming near in character or value; an approximation.
3. An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access. A path taken to reach the climbing area, for example, from a car park, road, etc.
4. A path taken to reach the climbing area, for example, from a car park, road, etc.
5. A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).
6. An opportunity of drawing near; access.
7. The way an aircraft comes in to land at an airport. A specific procedure used for approaching and landing at an airport.
   • We flew the RNAV/GPS A approach to runway 16.
8. A specific procedure used for approaching and landing at an airport.
   • We flew the RNAV/GPS A approach to runway 16.
9. The area before the lane in which a bowler may stand or run up before bowling the ball.
10. Ellipsis of approach shot.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.