approximate

[ adjective uh-prok-suh-mit; verb uh-prok-suh-meyt ]

adjective

1. near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard.
2. nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct:

   The approximate time was 10 o'clock.

3. near; close together.
4. very similar; nearly identical.

verb (used with object)

, ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing.

1. to come near to; approach closely to:

   to approximate an ideal.

2. to estimate:

   We approximated the distance at three miles.

3. to simulate; imitate closely:

   The motions of the stars can be approximated in a planetarium.

4. to bring near.

verb (used without object)

, ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing.

1. to come near in position, character, amount, etc.

approximate

adjective

1. almost accurate or exact
2. inexact; rough; loose

   only an approximate fit

3. much alike; almost the same
4. near; close together

verb

1. usually foll by to to come or bring near or close; be almost the same (as)
2. maths to find an expression for (some quantity) accurate to a specified degree See accurate

Derived Forms

• apˈproximative, adjective

Other Words From

• ap·proxi·mate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of approximate¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin approximātus drawn near to, approached (past participle of approximāre ). See ap- ¹, proximate

Word History and Origins

Origin of approximate¹

C15: from Late Latin approximāre, from Latin proximus nearest, from prope near

Example Sentences

They kept the field dimensions, re-created the limestone and granite façade, preserved views up to the elevated rail tracks and approximated the original frieze above the upper deck.

From Los Angeles Times

The prime minister is expected to declare corporate tickets to games he attends as a benefit in kind in his MP's register, with an approximate value given.

From BBC

For people cosplaying as a vacationer on the Amalfi Coast, there may be no better gustatory way to approximate the sensation.

From Salon

The original adobe itself, 99 by 33 feet, was taken down in 1900 — it had been latterly used as a veterinarian’s office — and an approximate replica was built but, typically for L.A., neglected.

From Los Angeles Times

"We used fetch to approximate wave height because the bigger the fetch, the longer the distance over which wind can blow and waves can grow."

From Science Daily