adj / v · academic
approximate
UK/əˈprɒksɪmət/US/əˈprɑːksɪmət/ap·PROX·i·mate
Band 5-6task1task2speaking
close to the actual number, amount, or time but not exactly so
Examples
“The survey results provide an approximate idea of student preferences.”
“Can you give an approximate time for when the work will be finished?”
“We approximated the cost based on past projects.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although the survey offers only approximate figures, it still highlights clear patterns in student behaviour.”
Collocations
- approximate value
- approximately equal
- approximate the cost
Word family
approximation napproximately adv
Common mistakes
use approximate as a verb without object: The result approximated.→approximate the result / the figure
Say it for a higher band
5estimate→6approximate→7+approximately
Synonyms
estimate
roughly
Easily confused
approximate vs approximate to
“The figure approximates last year’s sales.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sublist 9
Learn it with its set