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
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
Graduation season is fast approaching, and Jefferson County Public Schools has released ceremony dates for Louisville seniors to receive their diplomas.
—Kathryn Muchnick, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 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
Spring is fast approaching, but warm weather and blossoming trees are exactly what individuals with allergies don’t want to see.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Orders of protection barring him from approaching his victims were issued, prosecutors said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Florida remains the warmest region in the East, with North Florida rising into the 60s and South Florida holding in the 70s and approaching 80 degrees.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the RideKC bus was headed west on East 11th Street approaching Holmes.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
With the nuptial season fast approaching, this can also be styled as a wedding guest dress.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Mother’s Day, on May 10, is quickly approaching, and reservations at seats across Baltimore and beyond are already starting to fill up.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
American higher education is approaching a structural demand shock.
—Ian Gibson, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Finally, the date was approaching, in late November 2025.
—Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
Graduation season is fast approaching, and Jefferson County Public Schools has released ceremony dates for Louisville seniors to receive their diplomas.
—Kathryn Muchnick, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 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
Spring is fast approaching, but warm weather and blossoming trees are exactly what individuals with allergies don’t want to see.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
By the time selling experimental and theraputic peptides to people who had watched athletes on steroids race for a million dollars was no longer a fever dream but an approaching reality, D’Souza felt his work was done.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Orders of protection barring him from approaching his victims were issued, prosecutors said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Florida remains the warmest region in the East, with North Florida rising into the 60s and South Florida holding in the 70s and approaching 80 degrees.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the RideKC bus was headed west on East 11th Street approaching Holmes.
—Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
With the nuptial season fast approaching, this can also be styled as a wedding guest dress.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Mother’s Day, on May 10, is quickly approaching, and reservations at seats across Baltimore and beyond are already starting to fill up.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
American higher education is approaching a structural demand shock.
—Ian Gibson, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
Finally, the date was approaching, in late November 2025.
—Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approaching
Adjective
-
That’s more of a long-term goal, with the expectation that the Rangers will aim to nab one piece with their top-five pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and keep an eye out for any others who hit the market either this summer or down the road.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Veteran right-hander Phil Maton will be activated from the IL during the Cubs’ upcoming series in San Diego.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The coaches — Teisher for Mission Hills and Aaron Hooford for Escondido — had different philosophies coming into the game.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Gwen Polk, the district’s associate superintendent for business and financial services, said after the meeting that the companion resolution will have no impact on revenue coming into the schools.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Signs continue to point toward the nearing completion of a new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Standard systems use silicon for computation, which, for some time, has been nearing the limits for its efficiency, which has a major impact on its scalability and power consumption.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So, which games are best for approximating the challenges Artemis will face in settling the moon's surface?—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
During these tests, the platform demonstrated its ability to perform tasks in conditions approximating real combat scenarios.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The relationship set the tone for what was to come over the impending months — from that spark to culminating the deal in the last few weeks.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
-
By the time Cale Makar picked up the puck on the offensive line, exploiting Taylor Ward in a mismatched one-on-one before sniping short side past Anton Forsberg, the impending sweep was clear.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The news from Bristol comes just over a week after Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam announced a similar pending letter of intent, with the aim of closing a deal to be acquired by UConn by October.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Orlando’s annual Corporate 5K race returns to Lake Eola Park on Thursday, closing several roads in the city’s downtown.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The scoop neckline adds a flattering touch, and the midi length provides enough coverage for entering temples while still allowing for full freedom of movement.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But experts say more vessels are leaving than entering, indicating that shipping operators are mitigating risks by avoiding the area entirely and reallocating flows.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, the Estée Lauder color brand declined 25 percent, reflecting a tough comparison base compared to the same time last year.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Malloy notes that the practice has expanded its reach through telehealth while also introducing in-person services in response to patient preferences, reflecting an adaptive, hybrid model.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approaching. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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