approximates

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'approximates' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to come close to or nearly equal something. It can be used in various contexts, such as in mathematics, science, and everyday conversation. Here are a few examples: 1. The weather forecast approximates that there is a 70% chance of rain tomorrow. 2. The restaurant's menu approximates traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist. 3. The robot's design approximates human movement and behavior. 4. The study approximated the number of children affected by the pollution in the area. 5. The cost of the project approximates $10,000. 6. The approximation of pi is 3.14. 7. She approximated the number of attendees at the event to be around 100. 8. The artist's style closely approximates that of the famous painter, Monet. 9. The company's profit approximated $1 million this quarter. 10. The new software approximates the user's preferences based on their previous selections.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The perception of "safety" that Streetscore approximates is defined vaguely, since the survey doesn't explicitly distinguish between traffic violence and violent crime.The interest, of course, lies in that bolded phrase.

The Economist

Conversely, there is something profoundly dissatisfying, and a little bit demoralising, in acknowledging that most people will never accept many of ones' most ardently-held convictions, and that, therefore, none of us will ever get to live in a society that closely matches, or even roughly approximates, our beloved ideals.

The Economist

The least we can do is permit them access to the public sphere so that they can attempt to inform and persuade American voters.Indeed, it seems that the nearer the United States approximates global "hegemony", the closer we come to a truly unipolar world, the less the relevant public affected by American public policy is an exclusively American one.

The Economist

Lossy compression, used for images, audio and video, approximates the original instead of representing it exactly.

The Economist

Unsurprisingly, the market that Shanghai most closely approximates is Hong Kong, largely because of Chinese companies that have shares listed in both locations.

The Economist

Mapmakers have to choose a projection of the globe that approximates the basic properties of shape, size, direction, distance and scale.

The Economist

Applying the United Nations' human-development criteria, southern Brazil approximates the poorer countries of Europe; the north-east is more like those of Africa.Sweet corporate porkYet such aggregates conceal as much as they reveal.

The Economist

The heart rate in atrial flutter approximates 300 beats per minute and is difficult to treat pharmacologically.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Roughly speaking, by this measure worldwide infant mortality approximates 80 per 1,000; that is, about 8 percent of newborn babies die within the first year of life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The average thickness of the terrestrial crust for both East and West Antarctica approximates that of other continents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Of central importance in the collective worship of the dead is the visit of the departed members to their old home; among the Eastern Finno-Ugric peoples this approximates with the Christian feast of Easter, and among the Western it is in late autumn (e.g., the Finnish Kekri, November 1, an ancient festival to celebrate the seasonal change).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approximates" when you want to indicate that something is nearly, but not exactly, equal to something else. This is particularly useful in technical, scientific, or mathematical contexts where precision is important but exactness is not always achievable.

Common error

Avoid using "approximates" when the value or measurement is known with certainty. Using it inappropriately can undermine the accuracy of your statement and suggest uncertainty where none exists.

Linguistic Context

The verb "approximates" functions primarily as a descriptive term, indicating that something closely resembles or is nearly equal to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. For instance, "the heart rate in atrial flutter approximates 300 beats per minute".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

34%

News & Media

32%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approximates" is a verb used to indicate that something is nearly equal to or closely resembles something else, without being exactly the same. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and commonly used term across diverse contexts such as news, encyclopedias, and science. It's grammatical status is correct and it is most useful in situations where you want to convey an estimated or inexact relationship, making it especially suitable for technical and descriptive writing. Be cautious not to use "approximates" when precision is known; instead, reserve it for scenarios where you are conveying an estimated relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is nearly equal to

Highlights the near equality, often in a quantitative sense, much like "approximates".

is roughly

Implies an estimation that is not exact, similar to "approximates", but lacks the formal tone.

is close to

Suggests nearness, but not necessarily in a mathematical or calculated sense as "approximates" often does.

estimates to be

Focuses on the act of estimation rather than the state of being close in value or quality.

is similar to

Indicates a resemblance but may not imply a numerical or precise estimation like "approximates".

corresponds roughly to

Suggests a loose correspondence, implying less precision than "approximates".

is in the vicinity of

Suggests a general area or range, whereas "approximates" can be more specific.

is in the neighborhood of

Indicates a value within a certain range, similar to "approximates" but less formal.

resembles closely

Emphasizes the similarity in appearance or nature, whereas "approximates" can refer to numerical values.

is on par with

Implies equality or similarity in quality or status, not necessarily in quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "approximates" in a sentence?

Use "approximates" to indicate that something is nearly equal to another, such as: "The model "approximates real-world conditions" closely" or "The total cost "approximates $1 million"".

What are some alternatives to "approximates"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "is similar to", "is close to", or "is roughly" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "approximates" instead of "equals"?

"Approximates" is appropriate when you want to convey that a value or quantity is not exact but is close to another value. "Equals" implies an exact match, whereas "approximates" suggests an estimation.

What's the difference between "approximates" and "estimates"?

"Approximates" describes the relationship between two values where one is close to the other. "Estimates" refers to the act of making an educated guess or calculation about a value. For example, "The model "approximates the outcome"" (relationship), while "The researcher "estimates the cost"" (action).