approximate

Close to the true number, amount, or description, but not exact.

• What is the approximate cost?
• Please give an approximate arrival time.
• These figures show the approximate size of each group.

Similar words: rough, estimated, inexact

Opposites: exact, precise

Common phrases: approximate cost, approximate number, approximate date, approximate value

To work out a number or amount that is close to the true one.

• We approximated the repair cost.
• Can you approximate the number of guests?
• The engineer approximated the weight using a simple formula.

How to use it: approximate something as something (We approximated the total cost as two thousand euros.)

Similar words: estimate, roughly calculate

Common phrases: approximate the cost, approximate a value, approximate the total

To be or become close to something in amount, position, or qualities.

• The copy approximates the original.
• Their design approximated the shape of a bird.
• These sounds approximate human speech.

How to use it: approximate something (The model approximates the shape of a real heart.); approximate to something (The result approximates to the expected value.)

Similar words: approach, resemble, come close to

Common phrases: approximate human speech, approximate the ideal, approximate to something