APPROACH | Meaning In The Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of approach in English approachverb uk /əˈprəʊtʃ/ us /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach verb (COME NEAR)

Add to word list Add to word list B1 [ I or T ] to come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount: We could just see the train approaching in the distance. If you look out of the window on the left, you'll see that we're now approaching the Eiffel Tower. I see it's approaching lunchtime, so let's take a break. In my opinion, no other composers even begin to approach (= come near in quality to) Mozart. The total amount raised so far is approaching (= almost) $1,000. He's very active for a man approaching 80 (= who is almost 80 years old). to come closer in space or time

• approachA stranger approached and asked to have her picture taken with him.
• come/get closerThe swarm of bees was coming closer and closer.
• come/get nearerAs she came nearer the building the movement of the crowd became slower.
• draw closer/nearerThe holidays are drawing closer.
• come upA stranger came up to me and shook my hand.
• walk, go, etc. upI went up to him and asked him who he was.

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• Slow down as you approach the corner.
• Under no circumstances should you approach the man.
• The traffic lights turned green as we approached the junction.
• With exams approaching, it's a good idea to review your class notes.
• Sports teaching at the college doesn't even approach the required standard.

Closeness in distance and time

• a few steps idiom
• a hair's breadth idiom
• about
• anywhere
• anywhere near idiom
• approachable
• around
• cheek
• float
• float around phrasal verb
• hail
• hand to hand idiom
• hard by
• proximate
• proximately
• proximity
• round the corner idiom
• rub
• shout
• spit

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Advancing and moving forward

approach verb (DEAL WITH)

B2 [ T ] to deal with something: I'm not sure how to approach the problem.

• We really ought to approach the problem in a more scientific manner.
• He approached the task in a very mature and systematic way.
• It's difficult to know how to approach such a complex situation.
• The new boss approaches staff discipline much more strictly.
• My two children have very different ways of approaching things.

Dealing with things or people

• addressable
• attack
• attend to someone/something phrasal verb
• be all over it idiom
• beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
• bed
• cut
• go at someone phrasal verb
• grip
• have it out with someone idiom
• hold
• hold on idiom
• I/I've got this idiom
• square
• take (something) over phrasal verb
• tend to someone/something phrasal verb
• to get a handle on something idiom
• to have a handle on something idiom
• turn to someone phrasal verb
• weather

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approach verb (COMMUNICATE)

[ T ] to speak to, write to, or visit someone in order to do something such as make a request or business agreement: We've just approached the bank for/about a loan. She's been approached by a modelling agency.

• The whole system was corrupt - every official she approached wanted money before helping her.
• Be careful how you approach her - she's very temperamental.
• PJH Corporation said it had been approached by two possible suitors who had submitted bids to buy the company.
• At first, they refused to sign the agreement, but they caved in when they heard another firm was being approached.
• He was in a snit this morning and I didn't dare approach him.

Suggestions & proposals

• about
• bounce something off someone phrasal verb
• by implication
• can't
• co-sponsor
• drop
• if you take my meaning idiom
• implication
• maybe
• move
• mover
• nod
• nomination
• nominee
• on the table idiom
• proposed
• put ideas into someone's head idiom
• put someone to something idiom
• put something in phrasal verb
• put something/someone forward phrasal verb

See more results » approachnoun uk /əˈprəʊtʃ/ us /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach noun (DEALING WITH)

B2 [ C ] a way of considering or doing something: Since our research so far has not produced any answers to this problem, we need to adopt a different approach to it. I've just read an interesting book which has a new approach to Shakespeare. Michael is always very logical in his approach. a feeling or opinion about something or someone

• attitudeHis attitude towards authority has often got him into trouble.
• outlookI wish I could share your positive outlook on life.
• frame of mindI need to be in the right frame of mind to talk about this.
• approachIt's time to try a different approach to the problem.
• viewpointHis viewpoint is his own and does not affect how I think about the issue.
• point of viewFrom a strictly financial point of view it looks like a positive change.

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• The pilot was asked to slow his approach to the runway.
• Violent squalls signalled the approach of the hurricane.
• All approaches to the capital are now under the control of the insurgents.
• We stood and watched the slow approach of the funeral procession.
• At the approach of the teacher, she quickly hid her magazine under the desk.

Ways of achieving things

• a means to an end idiom
• actively
• another
• avenue
• bases
• basis
• catch (someone) up phrasal verb
• formula
• measure
• media
• method
• methodological
• methodologically
• procedure
• sop
• standard operating procedure
• strategy
• styleless
• stylistic
• vehicle

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approach noun (COMING NEAR)

B2 [ C or U ] the fact of getting nearer in distance or time: The siren signalled the approach of an ambulance. Many kinds of birds fly south at the approach of winter. Please fasten your seat belts, the plane is now making its final approach (in)to (= is coming near to and preparing to land at) Heathrow. a route that leads to a place: There is a very steep approach to the house.UK We got stuck in a traffic jam on the approach road.  the closest/nearest approach to something the most similar thing to something else that is mentioned: That's the nearest approach to an apology you're going to get from Paula. See more Arrivals and departures

• admittance
• advent
• arr.
• arrival
• bourne
• check
• connection
• departure for somewhere
• descent
• destination
• entrance
• entry
• eta
• gain admittance
• going
• invasion
• misconnect
• misconnection
• new arrival
• on arrival

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Roads & routes in general

approach noun (COMMUNICATION)

[ C ] an act of communicating with another person or group in order to ask for something: The hospital is making approaches to local businesses (= asking them to help) in their bid to raise money. I hear that Everton have made an approach to (= an attempt to make a business arrangement with) Arsenal to buy one of their players. Communicating & keeping in touch

• backchannel
• bell
• buzz
• call back phrasal verb
• call someone up phrasal verb
• check in phrasal verb
• interaction with someone/something
• interactive
• interactively
• interface
• interface with someone
• interpersonal skills
• lifeline
• ring
• signal
• transmittable
• unfollow
• unmute
• unreachable
• unreached

See more results » (Definition of approach from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

approach | American Dictionary

approachverb us /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach verb (COME NEAR)

Add to word list Add to word list [ I/T ] to come nearer to something or someone: [ I ] We could see the train approaching from a distance. [ I/T ] If you approach someone, you meet or communicate directly with that person: [ T ] We approached the bank manager about a loan.

approach verb (DEAL WITH)

[ T ] to deal with something: We should approach this problem logically.

approach

noun [ C ] us /əˈproʊtʃ/ approachnoun us /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach noun (COMING NEAR OR SOON)

[ C/U ] (of a person or object) the act of coming near to someone or something, or (of an event) the state of being about to happen soon: [ U ] The approach of winter sends many birds flying south.

approach noun (DEALING WITH)

[ C ] a way of dealing with something: We need to adopt a different approach to the problem. (Definition of approach from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

approach | Business English

approachnoun [ C ] uk /əˈprəʊtʃ/ us Add to word list Add to word list a way of doing something: an approach to sth Their positive approach to absence management played a large part in helping the organization return to profitability.a cautious/hands-on/practical approach He is respected for his hands-on approach in recruiting and a tireless work ethic.management/marketing approaches They changed their marketing approaches to include the principles and practices of green marketing. an act of communicating with another person or group in order to ask for something: The company said it has already had several approaches that "may or may not lead to an offer".receive an approach He had received a very attractive job approach to become group chief executive of a major company.a bid/takeover approach He confirmed that the firm had received takeover approaches from rival investment banks. (Definition of approach from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of approach

approach Constructions: a construction grammar approach to argument structure. From the Cambridge English Corpus The screening system permitted a population approach for quantification of changes in seed population thermal behaviour in relation to dormancy loss. From the Cambridge English Corpus The third approach uses planning effects on task performance to investigate how learners monitor their language. From the Cambridge English Corpus This indicator aimed to validate teachers' approach to lesson planning while attempting to link teacher thinking and administrator thinking through a shared discourse. From the Cambridge English Corpus At the outer edges of the plume, however, the production and destruction terms rapidly approach zero and advection and transport balance each other. From the Cambridge English Corpus In observational research in the general population, however, a continuum approach may be more useful than use of a qualitative cut-off point. From the Cambridge English Corpus This is a detailed and meticulous study, which combines sociolinguistic methodology with a qualitative pragmatics approach. From the Cambridge English Corpus We employ a multimethod, quantitative, and qualitative approach to the effort to link neighborhood structural conditions with child maltreatment reports. From the Cambridge English Corpus In the epidemiological literature, however, insomnia tends to be defined using a variety of approaches, ranging from rigorous diagnostic algorithms, to single questionnaire items. From the Cambridge English Corpus Our task-based approach is presented in view of a rigorous mathematically-based optimization formulation, where cost functions characterizing human performance measures are implemented. From the Cambridge English Corpus There is a clear demarcation amongst the approaches used to compare organic and non-organic farming. From the Cambridge English Corpus His approach to psychopathology was sceptical and philosophical; and he never created his own school of psychiatric, let alone psychopathological, teaching. From the Cambridge English Corpus The nearer that this model is approached, the more successful a purely quantitative approach will be, as in drug trials. From the Cambridge English Corpus These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Collocations with approach

approach

These are words often used in combination with approach.

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

aesthetic approachHe describes a kind of independent 'hereand-now' (which is interesting for an aesthetic approach to media art). From the Cambridge English Corpus   aggressive approachThis aggressive approach was employed to treat what was once thought to be a disease with a worse prognosis and outcome. From the Cambridge English Corpus   alternate approachTherefore, we used an alternate approach to examine the relationships between known brain oscillations. From the Cambridge English Corpus   These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. See all collocations with approach What is the pronunciation of approach?

Translations of approach

in Chinese (Traditional) 靠近, 接近, 臨近… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 靠近, 接近, 临近… See more in Spanish acercarse (a), abordar, acercarse a… See more in Portuguese aproximar-se, aproximar-se a, chegar… See more in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Telugu in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian जागा, वेळ, गुणवत्ता किंवा रकमेमध्ये एखाद्याच्या किंवा एखाद्याच्या जवळ येणे… See more （距離や時間が）～に近づく, 近寄る, ～に対処する… See more yaklaşım, yaklaşma, bir konuda belli bir yaklaşım ortaya koyma… See more approche [feminine], façon [feminine] d’aborder, arrivée [feminine]… See more apropar-se (a), abordar, enfocament… See more (be)naderen, nadering, toegangsweg… See more இடம், நேரம், தரம் அல்லது அளவு ஆகியவற்றில் ஏதாவது அல்லது ஒருவருக்கு அருகில் அல்லது அருகில் வர… See more किसी चीज़ या शख्स के पास आना या पहुँचना, किसी चीज़ को संभालना या उससे निपटना, नज़रिया… See more પાસે જવું, નજીક જવું, પહોંચવું… See more nærme sig, ankomst, det at nærme sig… See more närma sig, nalkas, annalkande… See more hampir, menghampiri, jalan masuk… See more sich nähern, das Herannahen, der Zugang… See more tilnærming [masculine], angrepsmåte [masculine], ankomst [masculine]… See more پہنچنا, قریب آنا, پاس آنا… See more наближатися, наближення, підхід… See more దగ్గరించడం, దేనినైనా పరిష్కరించు, పరిశీలించే… See more এগিয়ে আসা, কোনোকিছুর মোকাবিলা করা, কোনোকিছু বিবেচনা করা বা করে ফেলার একটি উপায়… See more přiblížit se (k), příchod, přístup… See more mendekati, kedatangan, jalan… See more เข้าใกล้, การเข้าใกล้, เส้นทาง… See more đến gần, sự đến gần, lối vào… See more podejście, oferta, propozycja… See more 다가가다, -을 다루다, 방법… See more avvicinarsi (a), affrontare, approccio… See more Need a translator?

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apprise apprise someone of something apprised apprising approach approach shot approachable approached approaching {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}

More meanings of approach

• approach shot
• final approach
• pre-approach
• bottom-up approach
• the closest/nearest approach to something phrase
• softly-softly approach

See all meanings

• the closest/nearest approach to something phrase

Word of the Day

fraternize

UK /ˈfræt.ə.naɪz/ US /ˈfræt̬.ɚ.naɪz/

to meet someone socially, especially someone who belongs to an opposing army or team, or has a different social position

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• English   
  • Verb 
    • approach (COME NEAR)
    • approach (DEAL WITH)
    • approach (COMMUNICATE)
  • Noun 
    • approach (DEALING WITH)
    • approach (COMING NEAR)
    • the closest/nearest approach to something
    • approach (COMMUNICATION)
• American   
  • Verb 
    • approach (COME NEAR)
    • approach (DEAL WITH)
  • Noun 
    • approach
  • Noun 
    • approach (COMING NEAR OR SOON)
    • approach (DEALING WITH)
• Business   Noun
• Examples
• Collocations

• Translations
• Grammar
• All translations

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