proximate

American  

[prok-suh-mit] / ˈprɒk sə mɪt /

adjective

1. next; nearest; immediately before or after in order, place, occurrence, etc.

2. close; very near.

3. approximate; fairly accurate.

4. forthcoming; imminent.

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proximate British  

/ ˈprɒksɪmɪt /

adjective

1. next or nearest in space or time

2. very near; close

3. immediately preceding or following in a series

4. a less common word for approximate

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Other Word Forms

• proximately adverb
• proximateness noun
• proximation noun

Etymology

Origin of proximate

1590–1600; < Late Latin proximātus, past participle of proximāre to near, approach. See proximal, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

With investors already fearful about the more proximate risks posed by the hundreds of billions being spent on AI, this vision of the future spooked the markets further.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

The proximate causes at times seem minor relative to the reactions they’ve provoked in the market.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 14, 2026

In each case, what might have otherwise been viewed as a minor offense was taken seriously because the actors were proximate to those in power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

"A lot of research, and especially mainstream media, conflate the proximate cause of something with the underlying cause of it."

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2024

Statistically, part of that ultimate effect of history proves to be mediated by the familiar proximate causes of good institutions.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond