Meaning & use
approach
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To move closer to a person, place, or thing in space or distance.
Grammar: Takes a direct object without 'to': approach the city, not 'approach to the city'.
Patterns
- approach someone
- approach something slowly
- approach the building
As we approached the bridge, the traffic slowed down.
She approached the sleeping dog with gentle steps.
verbintransitive
To come nearer in time, or to reach a particular level, state, or standard.
Grammar: No object; the subject is usually a time, event, or number: winter approaches, temperatures approach zero.
Patterns
- time approaches
- approach a level
- approach zero
With the exam approaching, everyone began to study harder.
The temperature tonight will approach freezing.
verbtransitive
To speak to someone in order to make a request, offer, or proposal.
Grammar: Takes a person as object, followed by 'about' or 'for': approach the manager about a raise.
Patterns
- approach someone about something
- approach someone for something
- approach someone with an idea
He approached his boss about taking a week off in August.
Several companies have approached her with job offers.
nouncountable
A particular way of dealing with a task, problem, or situation.
Grammar: Followed by 'to': an approach to learning; plural approaches.
Patterns
- an approach to something
- take a new approach
- adopt an approach
The school takes a practical approach to teaching science.
We need a completely different approach to this problem.
nouncountable
The act of coming closer, or a road, path, or method of reaching a place.
Grammar: Often singular with 'the': the approach to the airport; also used for the final part of a flight before landing.
Patterns
- the approach to somewhere
- make an approach
- on final approach
The approach to the castle is lined with old oak trees.
The pilot announced our final approach into Chicago.
Word forms
| third person singular | approaches |
|---|---|
| past tense | approached |
| past participle | approached |
| -ing form | approaching |
Common combinations
- approach a problem
- She approached the problem calmly and broke it into small steps.
- approach someone for help
- Do not hesitate to approach your tutor for help with the essay.
- a fresh approach
- The new coach brought a fresh approach to training.
- the approach to something
- Flowers line the approach to the museum entrance.
- take a different approach
- When arguing failed, he took a different approach and simply listened.
Synonyms and how they differ
- near
- Near is the everyday verb for moving closer; approach sounds slightly more formal and deliberate.
- method
- Method is a set, repeatable procedure; approach is broader and can simply mean a general attitude or way of tackling something.
- way
- Way is the most general, informal option; approach fits formal discussion of plans and policies.
Opposites
Word family
- approachable adjective
- Friendly and easy to talk to, or easy to reach physically.
- approaching adjective
- Coming closer in time: the approaching storm.
Commonly confused: approach or approximate?
approach vs approximate
Approximate means nearly exact or roughly correct; the verb approach means to come close in distance, time, or resemblance.
Practice
The company decided to ___ a completely new approach ___ training new staff.
Choose one answer.
You adopt (take up and use) an approach, and the fixed preposition is 'to': an approach to training. Adapt means to change something to fit, which does not fit the noun 'approach' here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “approach”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.