approach Hear it!

approach Definition

ap·proach (ə prōc̸h′)

intransitive verb

to come closer or draw nearer

Etymology: ME aprochen < OFr aprochier < LL(Ec) appropiare < L ad-, to + propius, compar. of prope, near

transitive verb

  1. to come near or nearer to
  2. to be like or similar to; approximate
  3. to make advances, a proposal, or a request to
  4. to begin dealing with to approach a task

noun

  1. a coming closer or drawing nearer
  2. an approximation or similarity
  3. an advance or overture (to someone): usually used in pl.
  4. a path, road, or other means of reaching a person or place; access
  5. a means of attaining a goal or purpose let's take a new approach to the problem
  6. Aeron. the act of bringing an aircraft into position for landing, bombing a target, etc.
  7. Golf a shot from the fairway, meant to hit the ball onto the putting green

approach Synonyms

approach

n.

  1. A means of access

    path, way, road, passageway; see entrance 2, road 1.

  2. Plan of action

    method, program, procedure, strategy; see method 2, plan 2.

  3. The act of coming near or on

    coming, advance, advent, arrival, access, appearance, oncoming, reaching, landing, approaching, nearing, act of drawing near, coming nearer, accession.

  4. Overture; usually plural

    proposal, offer, proposition; see proposal 1, suggestion 1.

approach Synonyms

approach

v.

  1. To approach personally

    appeal to, apply to, address, speak to, talk to, propose, request, accost, direct oneself to, make advances to, make overtures to, take aside, talk to in private, buttonhole*, corner*, descend on, descend upon*, sound out*.

    Antonyms avoid*, shun, turn away.

  2. To come near in space

    near, come near, come nearer, go toward, move toward, drift toward, come up to, step up to, roll up to, advance, loom up, creep up, drive up, verge upon, draw near, go near, converge on, advance on, gain on, come into sight, progress, close in, surround, come forward, come closer, catch up to, overtake, bear down on, edge up to, ease up to, head into.

    Antonyms leave*, recede, depart.

  3. To come near in time

    be imminent, be forthcoming, threaten, slip by, loom (up), await, near, draw near, impend, diminish, decrease, grow short, stare one in the face*, be around the corner*.

    Antonyms recede, extend, stretch out.

  4. To approximate

    come close to, approximate, compare; see equal, resemble.

approach Usage Examples

Object

  • retirement: If your adviser is a one-man band approaching retirement, you will need to know who will step into their shoes.

Converse of object

  • adopt: Cornwall was one of the first counties in the UK to adopt this action plan approach.
  • co-ordinate: Regional action plan Support the national Sexual Health Strategy by creating a co-ordinated regional approach.
  • develop: We are also aiming to develop a positive approach to diversity within the staff team.
  • take: I'm finding it hard not to take a personal approach to the issue.
  • propose: Contrast this with the approach proposed by the Sciences Education Board of the National Research Council in the USA.
  • base: To achieve this a catchment based approach is required.

Adjective modifier

  • holistic: In short we suggest that a more holistic approach to the evaluation of these packages is needed.
  • integrated: JEM offers a fully integrated approach from start to finish.
  • innovative: We take a varied and often innovative approach to teaching, learning and assessment.
  • flexible: What we hope will impress you most is the flexible, fun approach we have to wedding dress shopping.
  • different: To do this we need a very different approach to our use of land.
  • strategic: The Nuffield Languages Program - which promotes a strategic approach to the development of national capability in languages.

Preposition: with

  • caution: Some Members felt that method ( a ) was difficult and that studies should be approached with caution.

Noun used with modifier

  • participatory: We do this through participatory approaches that put poor people at the center of decision making.
  • step-by-step: The session will cover: Change management - a step-by-step approach Push and pull factors - what helps and what hinders the change process?
  • partnership: Councilor McNulty felt that the key issue would be a partnership approach with clubs to draw down extra funding.
  • novel: There was more on novel approaches to treatment from Professor Y. Matsuzawa ( Japan ) who classified obesity as malignant or benign.
  • whole-school: We also explain how schools can take an effective whole-school approach to drugs.
  • teaching: Teachers learn more about teaching approaches in the other sectors.
approach Quotes

Upon those that step into the same rivers different and different waters flow. They scatter and gather, come together and flow away, approach and depart.

—Heraclitus   fl.500

We had the experience but missed the meaning, And approach to the meaning restores the experience In a different form, beyond any meaning We can assign to happiness.

—Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

We had a two-track approach, one political and the other military, and the military was designed to move us along the political track.

—McNamara, Robert Strange