approached

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'approached' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone coming near, advancing, going towards, or getting close to something. Example sentence: I approached the building cautiously, not sure what I would find.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The cyclone has approached from the east after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria from Queensland's Cape York Peninsula where it made landfall as a category four storm but caused minimal damage.

The Guardian

Breen, currently writing his personal story of life as a policeman during the conflict, said: "I had approached numerous RUC officers who were keen to leave a living record of what went on in their fight against terrorism over the years.

The Guardian

In one incident in Margate, he claimed, voters said they had been intimidated by Ukip supporters as they approached a polling station.

The Guardian

Related: Bjørn Lomborg centre: government approached us, says University of WA UWA academics have been vocal in their opposition to the centre and demanded that the university sever its contract with the federal government or risk jeopardising its international reputation.

The Guardian

In what appears to be a separate altercation a few minutes later, Bristol Palin approached Klingenmeyer saying that she was going to "beat that girl's ass".

The Guardian

What is perhaps more surprising is that he has approached it, at least partly, as a comedy.

The Guardian - Books

"We are also looking at working with community groups based in the city, such as Brighton and Hove 10 10, to encourage other streets and organisations in the city, to start measuring their energy use," says Bird, who has recently been approached by one school, keen to set up an electricity-use measuring project with its pupils.

The Guardian

Last year, he approached several commercial laboratories to run further tests, but the moment they discovered the job was related to morgellons, firm after firm backed out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Just before half-time, a member of staff approached Jesús and Esther and said they had won a shirt and the presentation would be on the pitch.

The Guardian - Sport

The Germans approached the game with their usual phlegmatic sense of discipline and organisation, preferring Thomas Berthold to Wolfgang Rolff to give them extra width, pace and penetration on the right.

The Guardian - Sport

"I am humbled by the many people who have approached me about serving our Republican Conference in a different capacity in the future," Hensarling said in a statement to reporters.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approached" to describe making contact with someone, consider specifying the method of approach (e.g., "approached via email", "approached in person") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "approach" when the context requires the past tense. "Approach" is the present tense form; use "approached" for actions that have already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "approached" is that of a verb in the past tense. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where it describes completed actions of moving closer or initiating contact. It indicates a completed action of nearing something or someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Lifestyle

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approached" functions as a past tense verb, indicating the action of moving closer to something or someone, or beginning to address a task. Ludwig AI examples from diverse sources highlight its versatility. Its usage spans various contexts, from formal news reports to casual lifestyle articles, with a neutral register appropriate for many situations. It's crucial to use "approached" to accurately represent past events and avoid confusion with the present tense form, "approach". Alternatives like "neared" or "contacted" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neared

A more concise and direct synonym for approaching.

drawn near

Emphasizes gradual movement closer to something.

advanced towards

Highlights the directional movement and intent.

moved closer to

Focuses on the reduction of distance between subjects.

came up to

Indicates arriving at a closer proximity or specific point.

reached out to

Implies an attempt to communicate or make contact.

contacted

More formal and specific to initiating communication.

tackled

Suggests addressing a problem or task directly.

addressed

Indicates the start of focusing efforts on a subject.

set about

Describes beginning to handle or manage something.

FAQs

How to use "approached" in a sentence?

The word "approached" indicates movement closer to something or someone, or the act of addressing a subject. Example: "She "approached" the podium nervously" or "They "approached" the problem with caution".

What can I say instead of "approached" when referring to making contact?

Alternatives include "contacted", "reached out to", or "got in touch with", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "approached" and "neared"?

"Approached" can imply both physical proximity and the initiation of a discussion or action, whereas "neared" primarily focuses on physical distance. "The deadline "approached"" is about time, but "The ship "neared" the shore" is about location.

When is it appropriate to use "approached" instead of a more direct synonym?

Use "approached" when you want to emphasize a cautious or deliberate movement or when you want to convey the act of beginning to deal with a topic. It's less direct than verbs like "confronted" or "tackled", which suggest a more immediate or forceful engagement.