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View synonyms for

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)

approximated, approximating.
  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)

approximated, approximating.
  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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈdz澱پ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ·dzi·ٱ· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of approximate1

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin dz澱ٳܲ drawn near to, approached (past participle of dz澱 ). See ap- 1, proximate
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Word History and Origins

Origin of approximate1

C15: from Late Latin dz澱, from Latin proximus nearest, from prope near
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The merchandise was so popular that Murakami and the Dodgers responded by approximating the famous words of Hall of Fame Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks: “Let’s play two!”

From

Nowadays, Thewlis’ return to something approximating our old-fashioned picture of Holmes reminds us of sensibility’s valiance in a world given to absurdity and madness.

From

Some 121 completed the questionnaire and around 100 of these businesses told us they had at least an approximate idea of how much increases in employer NICSs would cost them.

From

With this technology, it is even possible to work out the approximate size of a vessel passing above a subsea cable, as well as its location and, in some circumstances, its direction of travel.

From

The rarer notes of soft honesty poking through here and there approximate the feeling the show stirred in us in the first place.

From

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approximantapproximately