Sam
Approach can be both a verb and a noun and they are often related.
Let’s look at two related verb and noun pairs like this, and then we’ll add one more meaning at the end.
Pair one. The verb, approach means ‘to come near or nearer’.
Look! We’re approaching the airport.
And the noun is ‘the act of getting nearer’.
We need to fasten our seat belts as we make our final approach.
Pair two. The verb approach means ‘to deal with something, like a problem’.
This is a new issue for me. I’m not sure how to approach it.
The noun describes ‘the way of dealing with something’.
What would your approach be?
And finally, as a verb approach can also mean ‘to speak to, write to, or visit someone with a request’.
I never approach my boss for anything before 10am. He’s not a morning person!
Approach
Approach can be both a verb and a noun. Here are five common uses:
1. (verb) to come near or nearer
- Look! We’re approaching the airport.
- The train slowed down as it approached the platform.
2. (verb) to deal with something, like a problem
- This is a new issue for me. I’m not sure how to approach it.
- Let’s ask Suki for advice. She always approaches problems in an interesting way.
3. (verb) to speak to, write to, or visit someone with a request
- I never approach my boss for anything before 10am. He’s not a morning person!
- We approached the bank for a loan to help with our new business.
4. (noun) the act of getting nearer
- We need to fasten our seat belts as we make our final approach.
- The sales of garden furniture tend to go up with the approach of summer.
5. (noun) the way of dealing with something
- What would your approach be?
- Let’s ask Suki for advice. She always has an interesting approach to problems.