Word
Definitions
01to move closer
B1 · Intermediate
v. to come near or nearer to something or someone in space or time.
v. to draw nearer in physical proximity or temporal distance.
日本語:近づく※
“The cat began to approach the bird very slowly so it wouldn't fly away.”
“As the deadline for the project approached, the team increased their efforts to ensure every detail was finalised before the presentation.”
02to speak to someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to speak to someone about something for the first time, often to ask for help or make a suggestion.
v. to make a proposal or request to someone; to initiate communication with a specific intent.
“I'm going to approach my boss about a pay rise next week.”
“The charity approached several local businesses to secure sponsorship for the upcoming community festival.”
03to deal with a problem
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to start dealing with a problem or task in a particular way.
v. to begin to deal with or consider a matter, task, or problem using a specific methodology.
日本語:アプローチする※
“We need to approach this problem from a different angle to find a solution.”
“The researchers approached the data analysis with a focus on long-term trends rather than isolated incidents.”
04a method
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a way of doing something or thinking about a problem.
n. a particular way of considering or dealing with something; a methodology.
“The school uses a modern approach to teaching languages.”
“The government's new approach to urban planning emphasises green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.”
05a physical path
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a path, road, or way that leads to a place.
n. a route or passage providing access to a specific location or building.
“The approach to the castle was a long, winding road through the forest.”
“Security was tightened on all approaches to the stadium ahead of the international match.”
Antonyms
06aircraft landing
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. the final part of a flight when an aircraft is coming in to land.
n. the flight path and procedure followed by an aircraft immediately before landing.
“The pilot had to abort the approach because of heavy fog on the runway.”
“The air traffic controller cleared the flight for a standard instrument approach despite the turbulent weather conditions.”
Usage
Often used with the verb 'make' or 'clear for'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “approach” in context.
Verb
01. adopt approach
“The company decided to adopt a more sustainable approach to manufacturing.”
verb + noun
02. advocate approach
“Many experts advocate a holistic approach to mental health treatment.”
verb + noun
03. apply approach
“We can apply this new approach to solve the current logistical issues.”
verb + noun
04. combine approach
“The researchers chose to combine both approaches to get more accurate results.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. alternative approach
“If this method fails, we will need to find an alternative approach.”
adj + noun
06. broad approach
“The committee decided to take a broad approach to the problem.”
adj + noun
07. complementary approach
“Using a complementary approach can provide a more complete picture.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. approach allow
“This new approach allows students to learn at their own pace.”
noun + verb
09. approach differ
“Their approach differs significantly from the one we used last year.”
noun + verb
10. approach involve
“The proposed approach involves a high level of community participation.”
noun + verb
11. approach rely
“The current approach relies heavily on outdated technology.”
noun + verb
12. approach tend
“This approach tends to be more effective in small group settings.”
noun + verb
Real-World Examples
“When two agents were approached by a man who “asked if they were ICE”, the agent responded, falsely, that they were not.” “The BBC has approached the White House for comment.” “Yuan Tian, VivoSphere’s chief technology officer, said its approach was to detect toxicity earlier so harmful drugs did not reach the animal testing stage.” “Early results suggest the inexpensive approach could bring medicine closer to a single blood test capable of catching a wide range of diseases before they become harder to treat.” Etymology
From Middle English aprochen, borrowed from Old French aprochier (modern French approcher), from Late Latin appropiāre, a verb based on Latin prope (“near”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pro- (a variant of per- (“before, in front; first”)) + *-kʷe (“suffix forming distributives from interrogatives”)).
From Middle English approche (“approach, arrival”), from approchen, aprochen (“to come or go near, approach; to adjoin, be close by; to enter (someone’s) presence; to be or become involved; to reach (a certain state); to arrive; to befall, happen to; to become similar to, resemble; to be a match for (someone)”); see etymology 1.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. shotgun approach
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/approach
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0