closely approaching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "closely approaching" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something getting near or almost happening/arriving. For example: "The man walked slowly, closely approaching the edge of the cliff."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

After four months and nine days of staring into this monitor for what has probably amounted in aggregate to something closely approaching a thousand hours, that's enough.

The New Yorker

Catholic historians such as the late John Boswell and Alan Bray have unearthed the blessing of same-sex couples, both in sworn-brotherhood rituals, as well as in other forms more closely approaching heterosexual betrothal and marriage rites.

The Guardian - Opinion

Utility properties of such composites are closely approaching the level of standard quality.

Procedia Engineering

Generally, MD was the most mineral free sample with its water chemistry closely approaching the precipitation dominance (Fig. 6).

Applied Water Science

The maximum lateral force prediction, calculated using allowable lateral ground acceleration, was closely approaching the experiment result and numerical calculation.

Procedia Engineering

The applicability of Prigogine's principle of minimum entropy production is known to be restricted to stationary states closely approaching thermodynamic equilibrium.

Chemical Engineering Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The one that most closely approaches the ideal is methane.

The New Yorker

Very large sections of the San Gabriels closely approach that angle.

The New Yorker

The animal that most closely approaches a constant rate of growth is an insect larva.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"A visual display more closely approaches a parallel process, with much broader bandwidth for communicating from computer to person".

The New York Times - Tech

In stylistic flavor, "Benjamin" most closely approaches the eighteenth-century English taste for portraits of fetching individuals in fancy dress.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "closely approaching" to convey a sense of progressive nearness, not just static proximity. For instance, 'The deadline is closely approaching' implies urgency and progression.

Common error

Avoid using "closely approaching" to describe a fixed, unchanging state. It's better suited for dynamic situations where something is actively moving closer to a state or location. For instance, instead of 'The building is closely approaching the park' (if it's already next to the park), consider 'The building is adjacent to the park'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "closely approaching" functions as a descriptive modifier, often used to provide context about the proximity or imminence of a situation, object, or goal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in diverse scenarios.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "closely approaching" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the act of nearing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and applicable across diverse contexts, with particular prevalence in scientific, news, and encyclopedia-based writing. While adaptable to various scenarios, it's important to reserve its use for dynamic contexts where something is actively nearing, rather than for static descriptions. Alternatives such as "nearly reaching" or "drawing near" may be more appropriate in certain situations. Avoid redundancy by not adding "near" after "closely approaching".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly reaching

Focuses on the act of almost achieving a specific point or level.

almost attaining

Emphasizes the aspect of gaining or reaching a particular status or condition.

nearing completion

Highlights the progress towards finishing a task or project.

drawing near

Suggests an imminent arrival or occurrence of something.

on the verge of

Implies being at the brink or threshold of a particular state or event.

approximating closely

Highlights the act of getting close to a target value or state.

verging on

Similar to 'on the verge of', but with a nuance of potentially crossing over.

in close proximity to

Emphasizes the physical closeness or adjacency to something.

in the neighborhood of

Indicates an approximate location or value.

impending arrival

Stresses the inevitable and soon-to-happen nature of something's coming.

FAQs

How can I use "closely approaching" in a sentence?

Use "closely approaching" to describe something that is getting nearer to a specific point, time, or state. For example, "The storm is closely approaching the coast", or "The project deadline is closely approaching".

What are some alternatives to "closely approaching"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly reaching", "almost attaining", or "drawing near" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "closely approaching near"?

No, saying "closely approaching near" is redundant because "approaching" already implies nearness. It's best to stick with just "closely approaching".

What's the difference between "closely approaching" and "broadly approaching"?

"Closely approaching" indicates a state of nearing or almost achieving something, highlighting the precision or proximity involved, while "broadly approaching" suggests a more general or less precise advancement toward a goal or idea.