approach

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/əˈprəʊtʃ/

Idioms

jump to other results

to problem/task

[countable] a way of dealing with somebody/something; a way of doing or thinking about something such as a problem or a task

She took the wrong approach in her dealings with them.
It was time to take a different approach.
an alternative/innovative approach
a traditional/similar approach
The approach they were using no longer seemed to work.
approach to something We need to adopt a new approach to the problem.
The therapy takes a holistic approach to health and well-being.
approach for something a variety of approaches for the treatment of depression
approach for doing something Will this be a successful approach for providing high-tech offices?

Wordfinder

action
approach
attitude
behaviour
conform
eccentric
etiquette
habit
manners
morality

Extra Examples

The school has decided to adopt a different approach to discipline.
I liked her approach to the problem
She favoured the direct approach.
We need to adopt a more pragmatic approach.
You need to change your basic approach.
He criticized the one-size-fits-all approach to learning.
I spent some time testing this approach.
Some teachers have a more formal approach to teaching.
The US army pioneered this approach.
The company is taking a proactive approach to easing the energy crisis.
This approach allows students to learn at their own pace.
The modern approach to grammar teaching should make it easier to learn.
We want you to explore and develop various approaches.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

conventional
orthodox
traditional
…

verb + approach

have
adopt
apply
…

approach + verb

allow something
enable something
offer something
…

preposition

approach to

See full entry

movement nearer

[singular] movement nearer to somebody/something in distance or time

She hadn't heard his approach and jumped as the door opened.
the approach of spring
They felt apprehensive about the approach of war.
The children fell silent at the approach of their teacher.

Extra Examples

The swishing of the grass signalled the approach of a person.
He had failed to notice the approach of the two policemen.
They were watching the slow approach of the bus.
The air was growing cooler with the approach of evening.
With the approach of winter comes new worries.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

shallow
steep

verb + approach

make
signal

approach + noun

speed
route

preposition

at the approach of
with the approach of
approach to
…

See full entry

offer/request

[countable] the act of speaking to somebody about something, especially when making an offer or a request

The club has made an approach to a local company for sponsorship.
We've received an approach from the director of a rival company.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + approach

make
have
receive
…

preposition

approach from
approach to

See full entry

approaches

[plural] (old-fashioned) attempts to start a personal or sexual relationship with somebody

She resented his persistent approaches.

path/road

[countable] a path, road, etc. that leads to a place

All the approaches to the palace were guarded by troops.
a new approach road to the port
The approach to the village was very pretty.

Topics Transport by car or lorryc1

of aircraft

[countable] the part of an aircraft’s flight immediately before landing

to begin the final approach to the runway
The aircraft had to make a steep approach to the landing strip.

Topics Transport by airb2

something similar

[singular] a thing that is like something else that is mentioned

That's the nearest approach to an apology you'll get from him.

Idioms

the carrot and (the) stick (approach)

if you use the carrot and stick approach, you persuade somebody to try harder by offering them a reward if they do, or a punishment if they do not
- The emphasis is on the carrot of incentive rather than the stick of taxes.
Extra Examples
- to adopt the carrot-and-stick approach
- He decided to use the carrot and stick approach.

approach

verb

/əˈprəʊtʃ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they approach	/əˈprəʊtʃ/ /əˈprəʊtʃ/
he / she / it approaches	/əˈprəʊtʃɪz/ /əˈprəʊtʃɪz/
past simple approached	/əˈprəʊtʃt/ /əˈprəʊtʃt/
past participle approached	/əˈprəʊtʃt/ /əˈprəʊtʃt/
-ing form approaching	/əˈprəʊtʃɪŋ/ /əˈprəʊtʃɪŋ/

jump to other results

move near

[intransitive, transitive] to come near to somebody/something in distance or time

We could hear the train approaching.
Winter is approaching.
The deadline was fast approaching.
The rapidly approaching storm could be seen on the horizon.
approach somebody/something She's approaching the end of her first year in the job.
I was approached by a woman who asked for the time.
The house is approached via a long driveway.
approach (somebody/something) from… The men approached the creature cautiously from behind.

Extra Examples

We heard the sound of an approaching car/a car approaching.
The time is fast approaching when we'll have to make a decision.
As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.
The army approached from the south.
Police said the suspect should not be approached.
The light comes on if an intruder approaches.
As the end of the course approaches, the students are busy applying for jobs.
Attacks on the party increased as the election approached.
With retirement approaching, she wants to move somewhere a little smaller.
He was approaching a turning point in his life.
She approached the crossroads cautiously.
The system is designed to stop missiles as they approach their target.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

fast
quickly
rapidly
…

See full entry

offer/ask

[transitive] to speak to somebody about something, especially to ask them for something or to offer to do something

approach somebody We have been approached by a number of companies that are interested in our product.
I'd like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to approach (= not easy to talk to in a friendly way).
approach somebody for something She was often approached for help and advice.
approach somebody about something We have approached the company about the possibility of a merger.
approach somebody about doing something Have you approached John about organizing a concert?
approach somebody to do something She was approached to take part in the event.

Extra Examples

It's best to approach her directly.
She approached the bank for a loan.

Topics Businessb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

directly

verb + approach

be easy to
be difficult to

preposition

about
for

See full entry

amount/quality

[transitive] approach something to come close to something in amount, level or quality

Interest rates are approaching zero.
profits approaching 30 million dollars
Few writers approach his richness of language.

Extra Examples

There is no other player even remotely approaching her calibre.
Here Wordsworth's verse movement closely approaches that of Gray.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

closely
not remotely

See full entry

problem/task

[transitive] approach something to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular way

to approach a subject/matter/task/question
What's the best way to approach this problem?
The issues should be approached with caution.

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French aprochier, aprocher, from ecclesiastical Latin appropiare ‘draw near’, from ad- ‘to’ + propius (comparative of prope ‘near’).