# approximate

/əˈpɹɑksəˌmeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/approximate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. nearly correct

adjective · CEFR B2

close to the actual number or amount, but not 100% exact.

For teachers: denoting a value or estimate that is nearly correct but lacks absolute precision.

- The builder gave us an approximate cost for the new roof.
- The researchers provided an approximate figure for the population decline, noting that a precise census was impossible due to the remote terrain.

### 2. close together

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

positioned very close to each other but not actually touching.

For teachers: situated in close proximity; in botany, describes parts that are close together but not united.

- The leaves on this plant are approximate, meaning they grow very close together.
- The specimen was identified by its approximate scales, which clustered tightly along the stem without ever fusing into a single sheath.

### 3. to be similar to

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to be almost the same as something else.

For teachers: to come close to or be similar to something in quality, nature, or quantity.

- The new synthetic material tries to approximate the feel of real leather.
- While the simulation is advanced, it can only approximate the complex atmospheric conditions found during a real hurricane.

### 4. to calculate roughly

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to guess or calculate a number so that it is nearly correct.

For teachers: to estimate or calculate a value to a near but non-exact degree.

- You can approximate the answer by rounding the numbers to the nearest ten.
- Engineers often approximate the load-bearing capacity of the soil before beginning the formal structural analysis.

## Examples

- The approximate cost of the repairs is five hundred dollars.
- The scientists provided an approximate date for the discovery based on the surrounding rock layers.
- While the initial survey provides an approximate figure for the population, a more rigorous census is required to confirm the exact demographic shifts.

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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.