1Come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

1. 1.1Come near or nearer to (a future time or event)
   ‘he was approaching retirement’
   More example sentences

   • ‘She's trailing in the polls approaching Election Day and the municipal tax base doesn't have the funds to cover the rising costs at local school boards.’
   • ‘Better results are expected in the near future as Bulgaria approaches EU integration, completes the privatisation process and sees its economy flourish.’
   • ‘The combination left him with a third second place - and no doubt a desire for revenge as he approached the 2001 event.’
   • ‘As it unfolded with its dramatic successes, we approached the end of our time together as a seminar.’
   • ‘Despite being at an age when many would opt for retirement - he was approaching 60 - Miquel was determined to find another business.’
   • ‘With the front end of the baby boomers approaching 60, many homeowners should be near to paying off their mortgage.’
   • ‘Now approaching 36, his career may be nearing its end, though hopefully not before he plays his part in the Caribbean in 2007.’
   • ‘One approaches the future neither arrogantly nor helplessly.’
   • ‘The construction of the city's first train museum is approaching completion.’
   • ‘These aircraft were approaching the end of their useful lives, and new airframes were required to continue the squadron's work for the next 10 years.’
   • ‘This first team stalwart is an example of this having started out with the club as a Colt and still playing at first team level as he approaches his 40th birthday.’
   • ‘Nevertheless, when the trial approached its close, the jury were invited by the prosecution to disbelieve these witnesses.’
   • ‘As the race approaches its close, we take a look the progress we've made thus far in the 2004 Democratic primaries.’
   • ‘As the Boeing 707 tanker approaches the end of its useful life, the world's air forces are closely monitoring tests such as this one.’
2. 1.2no object (of a future time) come nearer.
   ‘the time is approaching when you will be destroyed’
   More example sentences

   • ‘A period of great political change in this part of Europe was approaching and events began to move quickly in 1866.’
   • ‘As the full moon approaches, events take an even more sinister turn.’
   • ‘This great event is rapidly approaching and the Fort Knox team is in its final planning stages of this annual gathering.’
   • ‘This means that if stock or bond markets fall into a prolonged downturn as your retirement approaches, you risk being left with a much smaller pension pot than might otherwise have been the case.’
   • ‘But she is expecting some sleepless nights as the blue riband event approaches.’
   • ‘With midterm congressional elections approaching rapidly, both parties have said that passage of drug coverage will be critical to their success.’
   • ‘As the election approached, political pollsters of all parties started to identify a profound lack of interest in politics and party policies.’
   • ‘With election day approaching, Congress is certainly under pressure to do something.’
   • ‘As the end of November approached, I started getting questions about Thanksgiving.’
   • ‘And as the 2004 election approaches, commentators see a continuation, if not an intensification, of the culture war.’
   • ‘As evening approached, we relaxed in the shade near a water hole.’
   • ‘As the allotted start time approached even the birds were silent in deference to the events that were about to unfold.’
   • ‘As the end of the Christmas season was approaching in 1997, Kathy's inter-rail ticket was also nearing its terms of completion.’
   • ‘Who could worry about literature when the biggest social event of the year was approaching?’
   • ‘As the big day approached, I started experiencing overuse injuries after my 20-plus-mile walks.’
   • ‘The time for the concert to start approached and he asked Rebecca if she had intended to sit back stage or out front.’
   • ‘The men used to say that Belle knew when dinner time approached because she started pricking her ears forward so she did not miss hearing the call.’
   • ‘What with the wedding approaching, this is no time for a communication breakdown.’
   • ‘But as Election Day approaches, that is exactly what is happening.’
   • ‘As time approached for the party to start, some of his friends had arrived and new people for the train fest were showing up.’
3. 1.3Come close to (a number, level, or standard) in quality or quantity.
   ‘the population will approach 12 million by the end of the decade’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The Mitta Mitta rose to the occasion with a river level of 1.7m, approaching the 2m cut-off mark when nobody is permitted to kayak or raft the river.’
   • ‘Second generation bean leaf beetles are emerging now and beetles numbers will be approaching their highest levels for the summer.’
   • ‘It also will be impossible for the two teams to approach the Bucs' level of effectiveness.’
   • ‘Thus, the number of proteins is approaching a meaningful level to cover a diverse set of potential therapeutic and toxicity targets.’
   • ‘The characterization of round pins as a late feature approaches a marginal level of significance.’
   • ‘In fact, in the third quarter, margins appear to have approached levels not seen since the peak of the earnings boom in 1997.’
   • ‘The strength of the evidence for selenium and prostate cancer approaches the highest level, but even so, questions remain about the wisdom of making recommendations.’
   • ‘The resultant plot does seem to show that the population is now approaching an asymptote (and has done so twice before).’
   • ‘Today I read the article about the world population approaching six billion.’
   • ‘This will result in a total immune population of 92%, which is approaching the level needed to prevent epidemics.’
   • ‘The ascent should then begin at whichever of two conditions arises first: the planned bottom time is reached, or cylinder pressure approaches the critical level.’
   • ‘The organization reports private label cheeses have been forced to raise their prices as well, often to levels approaching those of branded products.’
   • ‘Last April I wrote a column that suggested it was unwise to try to load the .45 Colt to levels approaching the .44 Magnum.’
   • ‘Three other marker pairs showed deviations approaching the 0.01 level.’
   • ‘Sales and gross margins at the Hopkinton (Mass.) company are approaching their boom-time levels.’
   • ‘No other country in the world approaches that level of spending as a fraction of national income, no matter how its medical care is organized.’
   • ‘As the voltage approaches the higher level, sulfur atoms at one end of the molecule loosen their chemical bonds with the wire, and the current drops off as the switchover occurs.’
   • ‘In Pisces, collective thinking approaches the most mystical level possible.’
   • ‘In May of 2nd grade, her total standardized test results approached the 90th percentile!’
   • ‘Their worldwide record sales are approaching the 100 million marker very fast.’
   Synonyms

   border on, approximate, verge on, resemble

   View synonyms
4. 1.4archaic Bring nearer.
   More example sentences

   • ‘all those changes shall serve to approach him the faster to the blest mansion’

2Speak to (someone) for the first time about something, typically with a proposal or request.

3Start to deal with (something) in a certain way.

1A way of dealing with something.

2An act of speaking to someone for the first time about something, typically a proposal or request.

1. 2.1approachesdated Behavior intended to propose personal or sexual relations with someone.
   ‘feminine resistance to his approaches’
   More example sentences

   • ‘She told a District Court inquiry this week that she had taped telephone conversations with him in 2000 and 2001 because she feared he would kill her after she rejected his approaches.’
   • ‘When she rejected his approaches, he began to treat her meanly and find fault with her.’
   • ‘But she knew why he would never because she would never accept his approaches.’
   Synonyms

   advances, overtures, suggestions, attentions

   View synonyms

3in singular The action of coming near or nearer to someone or something in distance or time.

1. 3.1approach toAn approximation to something.
   More example sentences

   • ‘the past is impossible to recall with any approach to accuracy’
   Synonyms

   approximation, likeness, semblance, correspondence, parallel

   View synonyms
2. 3.2The part of an aircraft's flight in which it descends gradually toward an airfield or runway for landing.
   ‘the aircraft completed the approach and touched down’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The approach and landing were uneventful and the crew and aircraft were recovered safely.’
   • ‘He set up for a half-flap approach and lowered the landing gear with the emergency system.’
   • ‘Keep the ball in the middle in all phases of the approach to align the aircraft for maximum efficiency.’
   • ‘I thought you were tossed around like a rag doll on final landing approach because you were flying too slow.’
   • ‘The Gary airport was small and grassy so I made a nice easy approach and landing.’
   • ‘The airplane was observed on a three-mile final approach when it entered a left bank.’
   • ‘That, combined with the landing weight, explained the high approach and landing speed.’
   • ‘A downhill runway may cause you to fly a too-high approach, and an overshoot would be likely.’
   • ‘The crew had time to concentrate on the approach as we descended through the clouds.’
   • ‘In this case, the best plan is to have a very shallow approach and a slow descent rate.’
   • ‘Landing with one failed engine is very unforgiving; you have to get it right on the first approach.’
   • ‘Transition from flying Cessnas to Pipers and see how much more aware it makes you of all aspects of the approach.’
   • ‘You could even fly the entire approach at 70 knots if there was no need to expedite for other traffic.’
   • ‘The second approach was a little fast and one wing high but we got on the runway.’
3. 3.3usually approachesA road, sea passage, or other way leading to a place.
   ‘the eastern approach to the town’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Three new pedestrian islands will be built and an anti-skid coating applied in Brunshaw Road on the approaches to the roundabout.’
   • ‘The war caused the temporary suspension of this plan; nevertheless, a sum of £6,600 was spent on concreting the quay roads and approaches to the berths.’
   • ‘The minehunters had been in the area clearing unexploded weapons, including mines, from the approaches to the port.’
   • ‘There the King learned that a formidable French fleet lay at anchor in the mouth of the Zwyn, guarding the approaches to Bruges.’
   • ‘The 30 mph limit should stay except in the approaches to schools, hospitals, old folks homes etc. where the limit should be 15 mph and strictly enforced.’
   • ‘In the jungle, fighting patrols are guarding the surrounding villages and watching the approaches to the capital to monitor the activity of the rebels.’
   • ‘That brings traffic problems as drivers jostle for spaces or park thoughtlessly blocking entrances, bus stops and the approaches to pedestrian crossings.’
   • ‘Using canoes they penetrated the enemy's shipping lines in the approaches to Singapore and placed limpet mines destroying three vessels.’
   • ‘This in turn would allow major improvements in the capacity of the route and would also provide time savings for long distance services on the approaches to Dublin.’
   • ‘By our English law there is a public right of passage through our navigable channels, whether in a port or the approaches to it.’
   • ‘Adare port need not have existed at all if the approaches to Limerick docks were better.’
   • ‘Aircraft patrolled the approaches to ports looking for German and Japanese submarines.’
   • ‘He also suggested larger warning signs, the cross hatching of the left hand lane and better lighting on the approaches to major junctions.’
   • ‘The first part of a plan to upgrade a number of locations in Clogh Village has been the provision of rumble strips and school warning signs on the approaches to the village and the National School.’
   • ‘But there are limits to the number of new or wider roads that can be constructed, and the approaches to towns and cities are already becoming a concrete jungle.’
   • ‘It isn't so long since we were carrying stories and readers' letters complaining about the state of the railway embankments on the approaches to Bradford.’
   • ‘A long string of cars behind his vehicle testified to the jammed approaches to the major artery out of Downtown.’
   • ‘If we wish to brighten up one of the busiest approaches to the city, why stop at Oak Lane?’
   • ‘It gave a commanding view over the approaches to the farm, and there wasn't a single watchman; there were two of them, each marching half the walkway's circuit.’
   • ‘Those corridors provided natural approaches to the Ledo Road.’
   Synonyms

   driveway, drive, access road, road, avenue, street, passageway

   View synonyms