as in upcoming
being soon to appear or take place
the approaching holiday has everyone in a state of excitement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in coming
to come near or nearer
the parade's approaching! I can hear the band playing!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nearing
to move closer to
approach the bull with caution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in approximating
to come near or nearer to in character or quality
his store-bought dessert doesn't even approach your homemade version of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of approaching
Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 22 May 2026
As for those still deliberating, Decision Day is fast approaching.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Summer is fast approaching, with warm temperatures expected to hit Washington DC and make for a sticky and humid start to the season, a familiar reality for residents across the DMV.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Colorado’s first open race for governor in eight years is fast approaching, and The Denver Post wants your questions for the candidates.
—Jon Murray, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Election Day on Tuesday, April 7, is fast approaching.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
There are signs that the summer season is fast approaching.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
That being said, a pair of sandals is a high priority for my travel wardrobe, especially now that spring is fast approaching.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Danforth happened to be talking with Salvi on another matter that day, and was aware that the deadline for petitions was fast approaching.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 May 2026
If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Rather than approaching Lane’s story as a traditional cradle-to-present biography, the film uses his life and work as a way into the continuing importance of theater itself.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Employees no longer see learning as another task added to their schedule while deadlines are fast approaching but as part of solving real problems, making better decisions and growing within their roles.
—Gwen Mdinaradze, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
With an election approaching next month, the La Jolla Town Council is set for another significant overhaul of its board.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
In the video, the man can be heard screaming profanities while holding a baseball bat outside the window before getting out of the car and approaching the couple.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Additionally, California has the highest median rent in the nation, with asking rents approaching $2,900 statewide, according to Zillow data.
—James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Visitors approaching the museum’s doors will pass under a canopy of silver birch trees installed in its forecourt.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 14 May 2026
Adjective
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding is reportedly fast approaching, with the power couple beginning to quietly share details of their top-secret celebration with their guests.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 22 May 2026
As for those still deliberating, Decision Day is fast approaching.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Summer is fast approaching, with warm temperatures expected to hit Washington DC and make for a sticky and humid start to the season, a familiar reality for residents across the DMV.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Colorado’s first open race for governor in eight years is fast approaching, and The Denver Post wants your questions for the candidates.
—Jon Murray, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Election Day on Tuesday, April 7, is fast approaching.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
There are signs that the summer season is fast approaching.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
That being said, a pair of sandals is a high priority for my travel wardrobe, especially now that spring is fast approaching.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Danforth happened to be talking with Salvi on another matter that day, and was aware that the deadline for petitions was fast approaching.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
This may be attributed to school districts approaching reading education in a different way.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 May 2026
If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Rather than approaching Lane’s story as a traditional cradle-to-present biography, the film uses his life and work as a way into the continuing importance of theater itself.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Employees no longer see learning as another task added to their schedule while deadlines are fast approaching but as part of solving real problems, making better decisions and growing within their roles.
—Gwen Mdinaradze, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
With an election approaching next month, the La Jolla Town Council is set for another significant overhaul of its board.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
In the video, the man can be heard screaming profanities while holding a baseball bat outside the window before getting out of the car and approaching the couple.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Additionally, California has the highest median rent in the nation, with asking rents approaching $2,900 statewide, according to Zillow data.
—James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Visitors approaching the museum’s doors will pass under a canopy of silver birch trees installed in its forecourt.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approaching
Adjective
-
Now, heading into this upcoming special legislative session on the state budget, my focus is on locking in funding for more local water projects — and for Resilient Florida.—
Anna V. Eskamani,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
The brief preview, posted to Amell’s Instagram account on Saturday, features quick looks at Amell’s Captain Hobie Buchannon, son of David Hasselhoff’s Mitch Buchannon, as well as characters played by Brooks Nader, Livvy Dunne and Jessica Belkin in the upcoming Fox series.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Now, age verification is coming for your computer, bringing the same privacy concerns with it.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
-
The conflict and uncertainty surrounding it have continued to ripple through energy markets, with Exxon delivering a warning Thursday that oil inventories are on track to reach dangerously low levels in the coming weeks, forcing prices to spike and curbing demand.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Some occupations already have between 30% and 50% of workers nearing retirement.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
-
According to Edgemont, pearl-heavy arrangements may be nearing that point.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Lynch and Weselcouch implemented precisely this clever technique for approximating pi in Minecraft in 2024.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
25 May 2026
-
The band sounds a little like the Police approximating Weather Report, but Parker sounds much like the very guitarist who would join Tortoise and build the ETA IVTet—his tone incisive and notes restrained, his choices forever relating to the rhythm.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, Guardiola made his own decision to depart Manchester City at the end of the season after Bernardo’s impending exit was announced.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
Manager Matt Quatraro shared some encouraging news on Sunday about the right-handed starter’s impending return.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Tiwani Contemporary’s closure follows that of London’s Stephen Friedman Gallery, which went dark in February after closing its New York outpost and entering bankruptcy proceedings.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
28 May 2026
-
Both Miami-Dade and Broward school districts are considering closing or repurposing schools due to enrollment drops.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
There are legitimate concerns with entering into those conversations early, though.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Any people entering from Congo under emergency circumstances will be taken into mandatory self-isolation for 21 days.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
In the film, Ventura interviews the band members separately, with each person candidly reflecting on the group’s success and their downfall.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
-
The pair have remained close since their initial meeting, and Kimmel got emotional while reflecting on Carolla’s career.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approaching. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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