approach
[verb]
Synonyms:
- move towards, come close, come near, draw near, near, reach
- make a proposal to, appeal to, apply to, make overtures to, sound out
- set about, begin work on, commence, embark on, enter upon, make a start, undertake
[noun]
Synonyms:
- coming, advance, arrival, drawing near, nearing
- often plural: proposal, advance, appeal, application, invitation, offer, overture, proposition
- access, avenue, entrance, passage, road, way
- way, manner, means, method, style, technique
- likeness, approximation, semblance

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Antonyms: withdrawal
Contrasted words: recede, retire, retreat, withdraw, depart, go, leave, deviate, digress, differ, disaccord, disharmonize, vary
Related Idioms: come to close quarters with
Related Words: achieve, arrive (at), attain, gain, hit, make, reach, draw on, advise, confer, consult, counsel, negotiate, parley, beg, beseech, entreat, implore, plead, supplicate, attempt, endeavor, essay, try, call, invitation

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English Thesaurus: communicate, contact, get in touch (with somebody), get hold of somebody, approach, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. ap‧proach¹ S2 W2 AC /əˈprəʊtʃ $ əˈproʊtʃ/ verb
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aprochier, from Late Latin appropiare, from Latin ad- 'to' + prope 'near']

1. MOVE TOWARDS [intransitive and transitive] to move towards or nearer to someone or something:
As I approached the house, I noticed a light on upstairs.
She heard footsteps approaching.

2. ASK [transitive] to ask someone for something, or ask them to do something, especially when you are asking them for the first time or when you are not sure if they will do it
approach somebody for something
Students should be able to approach teachers for advice.
approach somebody/something about (doing) something
The charity approached several stores about giving food aid.
I have already been approached by several other companies (=offered a job, work etc). ⇒ approachable

3. FUTURE EVENT [intransitive and transitive] if an event or a particular time approaches, or you approach it, it is coming nearer and will happen soon:
She was then approaching the end of her career.
The time is fast approaching when we will have to make a decision.
With winter approaching, many animals are storing food.

4. DEAL WITH [transitive] to begin to deal with a situation or problem in a particular way or with a particular attitude
approach a problem/task/matter etc
It might be possible to approach the problem in a different way.

5. ALMOST [intransitive and transitive] to be almost equal to something:
temperatures approaching 35° C
He’s never had anything approaching a normal life.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. approach² S2 W1 AC noun

1. METHOD [countable] a method of doing something or dealing with a problem
approach to
a new approach to teaching languages
He decided to adopt a different approach and teach the Bible through story-telling.
This book takes an unorthodox approach to art criticism.
organizations which take a positive approach to creative thinking

2. ASK [countable] a request from someone, asking you to do something for them:
They made a direct approach to the minister of education.

3. the approach of something the approach of a particular time or event is the fact that it is getting closer:
the approach of autumn
It’s a sign of the approach of middle age.

4. MOVEMENT TOWARDS [uncountable] movement towards or near to something:
Our approach frightened the birds.

5. PATH/ROAD [countable] a road, path etc that leads to a place, and is the main way of reaching it:
Soldiers were guarding the approaches to the city.
an approach road

6. AIRCRAFT [countable] the final part of a plane’s flight, before it lands at an airport:
It was clear to land so we made our approach.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

approach
noun
I. way of dealing with sb/sth
ADJ. conventional, orthodox, traditional | alternative, different, fresh, new, novel We need to try alternative approaches to the problem.
cautious, conservative | creative, innovative | flexible | direct, no-nonsense, positive, practical, pragmatic, problem-solving, rational, useful | indirect | formal | informal | right | wrong | analytical, scientific, structured, systematic, theoretical | holistic, integrated | basic, general | objective | simplistic
VERB + APPROACH have Some teachers have a more formal approach to teaching.
adopt, develop, take, try, use We need to adopt a more pragmatic approach.
favour, prefer She favoured the direct approach.
PREP. ~ to I liked her approach to the problem

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
II. act of coming nearer
VERB + APPROACH make The aircraft had to make a steep approach to the landing strip.
PREP. at the ~ of The children fell silent at the approach of their teacher.
with the ~ of The weather turned colder with the approach of autumn.
~ to The plane crashed during its approach to the runway.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
III. discussion with sb in order to ask them for sth
VERB + APPROACH make | have, receive
PREP. ~ from We've received an approach from the director of a rival firm.
~ to We'll have to make an approach to the managing director.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
verb
I. come nearer
ADV. slowly | cautiously, warily, with caution
PREP. from The army approached from the south.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
II. come nearer in time
ADV. fast, rapidly The time is fast approaching when we will have to replace these old machines.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
III. speak to sb, usually to ask for sth
ADV. directly It's best to approach her directly.
VERB + APPROACH be easy to | be difficult to She found her father difficult to approach.
PREP. about Have you approached John about doing a concert?
for I approached the bank for a loan.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
IV. come close in amount/quality/style
ADV. closely Here Wordsworth's verse movement closely approaches that of Gray.
not nearly, not remotely There is no other player even remotely approaching her calibre.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach

a new/different/fresh/alternative approach
a new approach to pollution control
a positive approach (=showing that you believe something can be done)
A positive approach is essential in beating pain.
a creative approach (=thinking of new ideas and methods)
International business requires a more creative approach.
a general/broad approach
Many governments have pursued this general approach to economic policy.
a direct approach
We would do better to adopt a direct approach and tackle the problem at its source.
a practical approach
Women often take a more practical approach.
a pragmatic approach (=dealing with problems in a way that is not limited by a strict set of principles)
a pragmatic approach to management problems
a balanced approach (=considering everything in a sensible way)
The President spoke in favour of a calm and balanced approach.
a tough approach (=dealing with something in a severe way)
The council adopted a tough approach to fighting crime.
a cautious approach
China has followed a more cautious approach.
a flexible approach (=using different methods if necessary)
We have a flexible approach to our clients’ requirements.
a traditional/conservative approach
This is different from the traditional approach to high school teaching.
an unorthodox approach (=not the same as people usually use)
It’s an unorthodox approach that her doctor doesn’t recommend for everyone.
a scientific/systematic approach
a scientific approach to the study of language
have an approach
In the US they have a somewhat different approach.
take/adopt an approach (=use an approach)
There were concerns that Beijing would take a tougher approach.
use an approach
This approach has been used for a number of major investigations.
try an approach
Some scientists have been trying an alternative approach.
prefer/favour an approach
I prefer a traditional approach.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

approach
verb
BAD: He approached to my table and took a seat opposite me.
GOOD: He approached my table and took a seat opposite me.

Usage Note:
approach sb/sth (WITHOUT to ): 'One of the girls approached our car and held out her hand.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

communicate verb [intransitive and transitive] to exchange information or have a conversation with someone, by telephone, letter etc, or by seeing them:
Now that we live in different cities, we communicate by e-mail.
He is able to communicate using a special keyboard, which is connected to a computer.
This message is not being communicated to staff.
contact verb [transitive] to write to, phone, or email someone especially for the first time, in order to give or ask for information:
Neighbours contacted police after seeing a man with a gun.
She refused to comment when contacted by reporters from the local newspaper.
get in touch (with somebody) to write to, telephone, or email someone, especially someone who you do not see very often:
I really ought to get in touch with Paula. It's been months since we last spoke.
You've got my phone number if you need to get in touch.
get hold of somebody to succeed in contacting someone by telephone after trying several times:
Where have you been? I've been trying to get hold of you all week.
It's no use trying to phone Linda at work – she's impossible to get hold of.
approach verb [transitive] to contact someone that you do not know or have not contacted before, in order to offer them something or ask them for something:
He has already been approached by several professional football teams.
The company confirmed that it had been approached about a merger.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

method a way of doing something, especially one that is well known and often used:
You can choose whichever method of payment you prefer.
an environmentally friendly method for treating household waste
way a set of actions that you use in order to do something. Way is more informal than method and is used more often in everyday English:
What’s the best way to remove wine stains?
a new way of treating the disease
There are lots of ways of cooking mushrooms.
means something that you use to do something or achieve something:
Their main means of transport is their car.
E-mail is often the most convenient means of communication.
He looked around for a means of escape.
Education and training are the most efficient means of improving the nation’s economy.
approach a way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about or planned:
Today’s approach to raising children is very different from 40 years ago.
I think we need to try a different approach.
technique a particular way of doing something, for which you need a skill that has to be learned and practised:
tips on how to improve your exam technique
More patients are surviving thanks to improved surgical techniques.
tactics methods that you use in order to achieve what you want, especially in a game or competition:
There were complaints about police tactics used to clear demonstrators.
The team was discussing tactics for the game.
strategy a set of carefully planned methods for achieving something that is difficult and may take a long time:
our sales strategy
a strategy to reduce the level of teenage smoking
mode formal a particular way of doing something:
For him, painting is just another mode of expression.
You can choose between several different modes of operation.
the most efficient mode of transportation
Withdrawing a child from class is still the preferred mode of providing extra help to that child.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

way something you can do in order to achieve what you want or deal with a problem:
Visiting a country is a great way to learn a language.
a good way to lose weight
method a way of doing something, especially one that a lot of people know about and use:
They still use traditional methods of farming.
modern teaching methods
Different research methods are used to gather data.
approach a general way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about:
We need a whole new approach to environmental issues.
There will be considerable advantages to adopting this approach.
technique a way of doing something for which you need a skill that must be learned and practised:
I went to a class to learn relaxation techniques.
new surgical techniques
techniques for improving staff performance
strategy a carefully planned way to achieve something difficult or complicated that may take a long time:
They met to discuss the company’s business strategy.
the government’s long-term strategy for reducing crime
route a way from one place to another that people use regularly or that is shown on a map:
There are two routes we could take but this is the quickest one.
the overland trade route between Europe and China
directions instructions on how to get to a place:
Let’s stop and ask someone for directions.
If you follow these directions you’ll have no problem finding the house.
short cut a way of getting somewhere that is shorter than the usual way:
Let’s take a short cut across the field.
Taxi-drivers know all the short cuts.
how to get to ... especially spoken used especially when you ask someone to tell you which is the right way:
Can you tell me how to get to Grand Central Station?
It was getting dark and I wasn’t sure how to get home.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲