Approximate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət/ (adjective) /ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt/ (verb) ap·prox·i·mate

Meaning & Definition of Approximate

Approximate (adjective)

  1. nearly correct or exact, close in value or amount but not precise
  2. located close together

Approximate (verb)

  1. to come near to or be close to (something)
  2. to bring near or close
  3. to bring (cut edges of tissue) together

Approximate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being such only when compared to something else

    "the movie's an approximate success, if you can overlook the overblown publicity that preceded it"

    similar: almost, comparative, near, relative
    related: alike, comparable, similar, equal, equivalent
    opposite: absolute, complete, downright, out-and-out, outright, perfect, pure, unqualified
    near: genuine, real, true

  2. not precisely correct

    "police could only give us an approximate count of the number of people who attended the air show"

    similar: approximative, ballpark, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, loose, squishy
    related: erroneous, false, incorrect, off, wrong, general, indefinable, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, mushy, undefined, undetermined, unsettled, vague, faulty, flawed, mistaken, specious, distorted, fallacious, misleading, doubtful, dubious, questionable, uncertain, inconclusive, indecisive, debatable, disputable, invalidated, unconfirmed, unsubstantiated, unsupported
    opposite: accurate, dead, dead-on, exact, precise, ultraprecise, veracious
    near: certain, incontestable, indubitable, positive, sure, undeniable, unquestionable, correct, errorless, factual, right, sound, true, valid, clear-cut, decisive, definable, defined, definite, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, absolute, unqualified, confirmed, corroborated, determined, established, substantiated, supported, validated

Approximate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come near or nearer to in character or quality

    "Rob's violin performance last night didn't even approximate what he's really capable of when he's not feeling sick"

    similar: approach, compare (with), measure up (to), stack up (against or with), hold a candle to
    related: add up (to), amount (to), come (to), duplicate, equal, match, mirror, parallel, reflect, border (on), touch (on), verge (on)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Approximate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Approximate:

almost, comparative, near, relative, approximative, ballpark, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, loose, squishy, approach, compare (with), measure up (to), stack up (against or with), hold a candle to

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Approximate

Words with the opposite meaning of Approximate:

absolute, complete, downright, out-and-out, outright, perfect, pure, unqualified, accurate, dead, dead-on, exact, precise, ultraprecise, veracious

Related Words for Approximate

alike, comparable, similar, equal, equivalent, erroneous, false, incorrect, off, wrong, general, indefinable, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, mushy, undefined, undetermined, unsettled, vague, faulty, flawed, mistaken, specious, distorted, fallacious, misleading, doubtful, dubious, questionable

Near Antonyms of Approximate

genuine, real, true, certain, incontestable, indubitable, positive, sure, undeniable, unquestionable, correct, errorless, factual, right, sound, valid, clear-cut, decisive, definable, defined, definite, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, confirmed, corroborated, determined, established, substantiated, supported

Word Forms of Approximate

Inflections: approximated, approximating

Origin & Etymology of Approximate

Late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare to come near, from Latin ad- + proximare to come near proximate

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Approximate

Frequently Asked Questions about Approximate

What does "Approximate" mean?

"Approximate" means nearly correct or exact, close in value or amount but not precise. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: nearly correct or exact, close in value or amount but not precise. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Approximate"?

Other words for "Approximate" include almost, comparative, near, relative, approximative, ballpark, imprecise and inaccurate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Approximate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Approximate"?

There are 66 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Approximate". Common alternatives include almost, comparative, near, relative, approximative, ballpark, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact and loose.

What is the opposite of "Approximate"?

Antonyms of "Approximate" include absolute, complete, downright, out-and-out, outright, perfect, pure and unqualified. Near antonyms include genuine, real, true and certain.

How do you use "Approximate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Approximate" in a sentence: "the movie's an approximate success, if you can overlook the overblown publicity that preceded it"; "police could only give us an approximate count of the number of people who attended the air show"; "Rob's violin performance last night didn't even approximate what he's really capable of when he's not feeling sick".

Is "Approximate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Approximate" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Approximate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Approximate" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Approximate"?

"Approximate" is pronounced /ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət/ as an adjective and /ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as ap·prox·i·mate.