was approaching

USAGE SUMMARY

"was approaching" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when expressing something that was happening at a particular point in the past. For example: "As the sun was approaching the horizon, the sky lit up with brilliant shades of orange and pink."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Noon was approaching.

The New Yorker

Midnight was approaching.

The New York Times

It was approaching 2 a.m.

The New York Times

In London, dusk was approaching.

The New Yorker

The big moment was approaching.

Independent

The bus was approaching Wilmington.

The New Yorker

Moving day was approaching quickly.

The New York Times

It was approaching 11.30pm.

The Guardian

Christmas was approaching.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

I was delighted when I was approached.

BBC

They are approaching Syria.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was approaching" to describe events or times that were imminent or nearing in the past. For example: "The deadline "was approaching", so we worked late into the night."

Common error

Avoid using "was approaching" to describe future events. It is used to talk about something in the past that was nearing. Use "will be approaching" for future.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was approaching" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an ongoing action of nearing or drawing closer to something at a specific time in the past. Ludwig examples show it describing time, events, and physical locations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was approaching" is a past continuous verb phrase used to describe something that was in the process of nearing in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. The phrase is versatile and can effectively convey a sense of imminence or progression in past narratives. Remember to use it for past events and avoid confusion with future tenses. Consider alternatives like ""was drawing near"" or "was getting closer" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was drawing near

Replaces "approaching" with "drawing near", emphasizing the gradual reduction of distance.

was getting closer

Substitutes "approaching" with "getting closer", indicating a progressive decrease in physical or metaphorical distance.

was coming closer

Similar to "getting closer", this variation highlights the movement towards a closer position.

was nearing

Uses "nearing" as a direct synonym for "approaching", offering a more concise alternative.

was on the horizon

Emphasizes the impending nature of something, suggesting it is about to become apparent or relevant.

was looming

Implies a sense of foreboding or threat as something gets closer.

was shaping up

Indicates that a situation or event was developing or taking form.

was in the offing

Suggests that something is likely to happen or appear soon.

was transpiring

Highlights that an event or process was unfolding or occurring.

was emerging

Suggests that something was coming into view or becoming known.

FAQs

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

"Was approaching" is used to describe something that was drawing near in the past. For instance, "The car "was drawing near" the intersection when the accident occurred."

What are some alternatives to "was approaching"?

You can use phrases like ""was drawing near"", "was getting closer", or "was nearing" as alternatives to "was approaching", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "was approaching" for future events?

No, "was approaching" is for past events. For future events, you should use "will be approaching" or similar future tense constructs.

What's the difference between "was approaching" and "is approaching"?

"Was approaching" describes an event that was nearing in the past, while "is approaching" describes an event that is currently nearing. The choice depends on the timeline you are describing.