approach
verb/əˈprəʊtʃ/
/əˈprəʊtʃ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they approach | /əˈprəʊtʃ/ /əˈprəʊtʃ/ |
| he / she / it approaches | /əˈprəʊtʃɪz/ /əˈprəʊtʃɪz/ |
| past simple approached | /əˈprəʊtʃt/ /əˈprəʊtʃt/ |
| past participle approached | /əˈprəʊtʃt/ /əˈprəʊtʃt/ |
| -ing form approaching | /əˈprəʊtʃɪŋ/ /əˈprəʊtʃɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to come near to somebody/something in distance or time
- We could hear the train approaching.
- Winter is approaching.
- The deadline was fast approaching.
- The rapidly approaching storm could be seen on the horizon.
- approach somebody/something She's approaching the end of her first year in the job.
- I was approached by a woman who asked for the time.
- The house is approached via a long driveway.
- approach (somebody/something) from… The men approached the creature cautiously from behind.
Extra Examples- We heard the sound of an approaching car/a car approaching.
- The time is fast approaching when we'll have to make a decision.
- As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.
- The army approached from the south.
- Police said the suspect should not be approached.
- The light comes on if an intruder approaches.
- As the end of the course approaches, the students are busy applying for jobs.
- Attacks on the party increased as the election approached.
- With retirement approaching, she wants to move somewhere a little smaller.
- He was approaching a turning point in his life.
- She approached the crossroads cautiously.
- The system is designed to stop missiles as they approach their target.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- fast
- quickly
- rapidly
- …
- [transitive] to speak to somebody about something, especially to ask them for something or to offer to do something
- approach somebody We have been approached by a number of companies that are interested in our product.
- I'd like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to approach (= not easy to talk to in a friendly way).
- approach somebody for something She was often approached for help and advice.
- approach somebody about something We have approached the company about the possibility of a merger.
- approach somebody about doing something Have you approached John about organizing a concert?
- approach somebody to do something She was approached to take part in the event.
Extra ExamplesTopics Businessb2- It's best to approach her directly.
- She approached the bank for a loan.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- directly
- be easy to
- be difficult to
- about
- for
- [transitive] approach something to come close to something in amount, level or quality
- Interest rates are approaching zero.
- profits approaching 30 million dollars
- Few writers approach his richness of language.
Extra Examples- There is no other player even remotely approaching her calibre.
- Here Wordsworth's verse movement closely approaches that of Gray.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- closely
- not remotely
- [transitive] approach something to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular way
- to approach a subject/matter/task/question
- What's the best way to approach this problem?
- The issues should be approached with caution.
move near
offer/ask
amount/quality
problem/task
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French aprochier, aprocher, from ecclesiastical Latin appropiare ‘draw near’, from ad- ‘to’ + propius (comparative of prope ‘near’).
Check pronunciation:
approach