Definition of “approach” - English Dictionary

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“approach” in English

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approachverb

uk ​ /əˈprəʊtʃ/ us ​ /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach verb (COME NEAR)

B1 [ I or T ] to come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount:

We could just see the train approaching in the distance.
If you look out of the window on the left, you'll see that we're now approaching the Eiffel Tower.
I see it's approaching lunchtime, so let's take a break.
In my opinion, no other composers even begin to approach (= come near in quality to) Mozart.
The total amount raised so far is approaching (= almost) $1,000.
He's very active for a man approaching 80 (= who is almost 80 years old).

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approach verb (DEAL WITH)

B2 [ T ] to deal with something:

I'm not sure how to approach the problem.

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approach verb (COMMUNICATE)

› [ T ] to speak to, write to, or visit someone in order to do something such as make a request or business agreement:

We've just approached the bank for/about a loan.
She's been approached by a modelling agency.

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approachnoun

uk ​ /əˈprəʊtʃ/ us ​ /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach noun (DEALING WITH)

B2 [ C ] a way of considering or doing something:

Since our research so far has not produced any answers to this problem, we need to adopt a different approach to it.
I've just read an interesting book which has a new approach to Shakespeare.
Michael is always very logical in his approach.

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approach noun (COMING NEAR)

B2 [ C or U ] the fact of getting nearer in distance or time:

The siren signalled the approach of an ambulance.
Many kinds of birds fly south at the approach of winter.
Please fasten your seat belts, the plane is now making its final approach (in)to (= is coming near to and preparing to land at) Heathrow.

› a route that leads to a place:

There is a very steep approach to the house.
UK We got stuck in a traffic jam on the approach road.
the closest/nearest approach to sth

› the most similar thing to something else that is mentioned:

That's the nearest approach to an apology you're going to get from Paula.

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(Definition of “approach” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“approach” in American English

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approachverb

us ​ /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach verb (COME NEAR)

› [ I/T ] to come nearer to something or someone:

[ I ] We could see the train approaching from a distance.

› [ I/T ] If you approach someone, you meet or communicate directly with that person:

[ T ] We approached the bank manager about a loan.

approach verb (DEAL WITH)

› [ T ] to deal with something:

We should approach this problem logically.
approach
noun [ C ] us ​ /əˈproʊtʃ/

approachnoun

us ​ /əˈproʊtʃ/

approach noun (COMING NEAR OR SOON)

› [ C/U ] (of a person or object) the act of coming near to someone or something, or (of an event) the state of being about to happen soon:

[ U ] The approach of winter sends many birds flying south.

approach noun (DEALING WITH)

› [ C ] a way of dealing with something:

We need to adopt a different approach to the problem.

(Definition of “approach” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“approach” in Business English

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approachnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /əˈprəʊtʃ/ us ​

› a way of doing something:

an approach to sth Their positive approach to absence management played a large part in helping the organization return to profitability.
a cautious/hands-on/practical approach He is respected for his hands-on approach in recruiting and a tireless work ethic.
management/marketing approaches They changed their marketing approaches to include the principles and practices of green marketing.

› an act of communicating with another person or group in order to ask for something:

The company said it has already had several approaches that "may or may not lead to an offer".
receive an approach He had received a very attractive job approach to become group chief executive of a major company.
a bid/takeover approach He confirmed that the firm had received takeover approaches from rival investment banks.

(Definition of “approach” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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approach

Overall, the approach is too academic and takes little account of the practical difficulties of implementing the approach at industrial sites - some of which can be extremely complex.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The basic thought behind this approach, that is that women's problems are cross-cutting problems, goes back much further however and was applied in policy far earlier.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The other approach was quite different.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
On the basis of that approach, we chose to vote against those items concerned with incorporating the prevention of forest fires into the regulation.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
As you will have noted, there is no doubt that our joint approach, the result of long interinstitutional experience, is bearing fruit.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
I mean an approach that is a little oversimplistic, which does not, indeed, take into account the two fundamental factors already mentioned.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The different priority sectors mentioned also show an innovative approach to institutional development; the security issue, in particular, has indeed become one of the new political concerns.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
We must again seek that one voice, and that one voice is one of conflict prevention, one of contribution to international law and the multilateral approach.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
However, let us state the fact that company management take a fundamentally financial approach and not always an industrial one, far from it, when defining their strategy.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Since then, the documents that set out our approach to the negotiations have been widely published, in particular on our website.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
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