# approaches

/əˈpɹoʊtʃəz/ (US) · /ɐpɹˈəʊtʃɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/approaches
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to come closer

verb · CEFR B1

to move closer to someone or something in distance.

For teachers: to move nearer to someone or something in space.

- The train slowed down as it approached the station.
- As the storm approached the coastline, local authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for all low-lying residential areas.

Usage: This verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.

### 2. time coming closer

verb · CEFR B1

to get closer to a specific time or event.

For teachers: to draw near in time.

- The children got more excited as Christmas approached.
- As the deadline for the research grant approached, the laboratory staff worked late into the evening to finalise their data sets.

Usage: Often used intransitively when the subject is a time or event.

### 3. a method

noun · CEFR B2

a way of dealing with a situation or problem.

For teachers: a way of dealing with a matter or problem; a specific methodology.

- The school decided to try a new approach to teaching languages.
- The CEO advocated for a more aggressive approach to market expansion, despite concerns from the board regarding short-term liquidity.

Usage: Often takes the preposition 'to'.

### 4. a path or route

noun · CEFR B2

a path, road, or direction used to reach a place.

For teachers: a road, passage, or way by which a place may be reached.

- The approach to the castle was steep and narrow.
- Air traffic control cleared the pilot for the final approach to the runway, noting that visibility had improved significantly.

### 5. social advances

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

efforts to start a conversation or a relationship with someone.

For teachers: an initial proposal or request made to someone; movements to gain favour.

- The company made several approaches to buy their smaller competitor.
- Despite his repeated social approaches, she remained professional and kept their interactions strictly focused on the project.

Teaching tip: In this sense, the plural 'approaches' is very common when describing business or romantic overtures.

## Examples

- The team tried several different approaches to solve the puzzle.
- The government is considering two different approaches to reducing plastic waste in the ocean.
- While traditional approaches to urban planning focused on car accessibility, modern strategies prioritise pedestrian zones and public transit to foster community engagement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.