Meaning & use
approximate time
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Meaning
nouncountable
A time that is not exact but is close to the real one.
Grammar: Countable: you can say an approximate time or approximate times; often used with the, as in the approximate time of arrival.
Patterns
- an approximate time for something
- the approximate time of something
- give someone an approximate time
Could you give me an approximate time for the delivery?
The approximate time of the meeting is three o'clock, but it may start a little later.
We only know the approximate time of the accident, not the exact minute.
Word forms
| plural | approximate times |
|---|
Common combinations
- give an approximate time
- Please give an approximate time so I can plan my day.
- the approximate time of arrival
- The approximate time of arrival is 6 p.m.
- an approximate time for
- Can you suggest an approximate time for the interview?
- at an approximate time
- The package will arrive at an approximate time of noon.
- estimate the approximate time
- She tried to estimate the approximate time needed for the repairs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rough time
- "Rough time" is more informal and suggests a very loose guess; "approximate time" sounds more neutral and slightly more precise.
- estimated time
- "Estimated time" often appears in announcements (estimated time of arrival) and suggests a calculated guess, while "approximate time" simply means not exact.
Opposites
Word family
- approximate adjective
- Close to the real number or amount but not exact.
- approximately adverb
- Used before numbers to mean about or nearly.
- approximation noun
- A result or guess that is close but not exact.
Commonly confused: approximate time or approximately?
approximate time vs approximately
Learners sometimes write "approximately time", but "approximately" is an adverb and cannot describe a noun; use the adjective "approximate" before "time".
Practice
Which sentence uses "approximate time" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"An approximate time" correctly uses the adjective before the noun. Option A wrongly uses the adverb "approximately" before "time"; C uses the wrong preposition and word order; D uses "approximate" as a verb, which is not standard here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “approximate time”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.