approximate
Americanadjective
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near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard.
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nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct.
The approximate time was 10 o'clock.
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near; close together.
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very similar; nearly identical.
verb (used with object)
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to come near to; approach closely to.
to approximate an ideal.
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to estimate.
We approximated the distance at three miles.
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to simulate; imitate closely.
The motions of the stars can be approximated in a planetarium.
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to bring near.
verb (used without object)
adjective
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almost accurate or exact
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inexact; rough; loose
only an approximate fit
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much alike; almost the same
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near; close together
verb
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(usually foll by to) to come or bring near or close; be almost the same (as)
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maths to find an expression for (some quantity) accurate to a specified degree See accurate
Other Word Forms
- approximately adverb
- approximative adjective
Etymology
Origin of approximate
1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin approximātus drawn near to, approached (past participle of approximāre ). See ap- 1, proximate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
More than a dozen could not give an approximate start date.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
"For example, their eggs are unlike those of any living species, so we invented the resin eggs to approximate real oviraptor eggs as best as we could."
From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026
Stout and slightly gruff, Dipper has a digital face that can approximate more than 40 expressions.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
The approximate share of the population that is estranged from a parent or child at any given time, research shows.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026
A mile out, they would arrange the boats in a circle on the black sea, drop their nets, and, holding their lanterns over the water, they would approximate the moon.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
