ap·proach ( -pr ch )v. ap·proached, ap·proach·ing, ap·proach·es v.intr.1. To come near or nearer, as in space or time: Spring approaches. 2. Sports To make an approach, as in golf. v.tr.1. To come or go near or nearer to: approached the tunnel. 2. To come close to, as in appearance, quality, or condition; approximate: The performance approaches perfection. 3. To make a proposal or overtures to with a specific end in view: approached the administration for a raise. 4. To begin to deal with or work on: approached the task with dread; approached the issue from a historical perspective. n.1. The act of approaching: the approach of night. 2. A fairly close resemblance; an approximation. 3. A way or means of reaching something; an access: an approach to the bridge. 4. The method used in dealing with or accomplishing: a logical approach to the problem. 5. An advance or overture made by one person to another. 6. Sports a. The golf stroke following the drive from the tee with which a player tries to get the ball onto the putting green. b. The steps taken prior to executing a competitive maneuver, as by a diver before diving forward from a springboard or by a bowler before delivering the ball. c. The part of the area behind the foul line in a bowling alley used by a bowler in delivering the ball.
[Middle English approchen, from Old French aprochier, from Late Latin appropi re : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin propius, nearer, comparative of prope, near; see per1 in Indo-European roots.] |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | approaching - the event of one object coming closer to anothermotion, movement - a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something |
| 2. | approaching - the temporal property of becoming nearer in time; "the approach of winter"timing - the time when something happens |
| 3. | approaching - the act of drawing spatially closer to something; "the hunter's approach scattered the geese"movement, move, motion - the act of changing location from one place to another; "police controlled the motion of the crowd"; "the movement of people from the farms to the cities"; "his move put him directly in my path" access - the act of approaching or entering; "he gained access to the building" closure, closing - approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap; "the ship's rapid rate of closing gave them little time to avoid a collision" run-up - the approach run during which an athlete gathers speed |
| Adj. | 1. | approaching - of the relatively near future; "the approaching election"; "this coming Thursday"; "the forthcoming holidays"; "the upcoming spring fashions"future - yet to be or coming; "some future historian will evaluate him" |