MEANING
1. to come close to a value or description without matching it exactly
2. Close to an exact amount, position, or description, but not exact.
3. To calculate or produce an estimate instead of an exact quantity.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- approximate a value
- approximate the result
- closely approximate
On the page
The model approximates the observed pattern.
A simple ratio can approximate the annual rate.
These figures approximate the total rather than establish it exactly.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- approximate / approximates
- Past tense
- approximated
- Past participle
- approximated
- Present participle
- approximating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- approximate / approximates
- Present continuous
- am/is/are approximating
- Present perfect
- have/has approximated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been approximating
- Past
- approximated
- Past continuous
- was/were approximating
- Past perfect
- had approximated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been approximating
- Future
- will approximate / approximates
- Future continuous
- will be approximating
- Future perfect
- will have approximated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been approximating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary curation section: Academic. An approximation may be deliberate and useful; it is not necessarily an error. The adjective means close to exact. approximate; approximates; approximated; approximated; approximating. Related noun: approximation; adverb: approximately.
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