Approximately

Definition

Approximately is an adverb that means close to or roughly, used to express an estimation that is not exact but near to a particular value or range.

Parts of Speech

• Adverb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈprɑksɪmətli/
• Respelling: uh-PROK-suh-mit-lee

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈprɒksɪmətli/
• Respelling: uh-PROK-si-mit-lee

Etymology

The word "approximately" originates from the Latin "approximatus," meaning "to come near" or "to bring close," derived from "ad-" (to) and "proximus" (nearest). The term entered English in the 15th century to denote near accuracy without being exact.

Derivatives

• Approximate (adjective/verb)
• Approximation (noun)
• Approximately (adverb)
• Approximative (adjective)
• Approximate value (noun)

Synonyms

• Roughly
• Nearly
• About

Antonyms

• Exactly
• Precisely
• Accurately

Usage

The adverb "approximately" is frequently used to express estimates or ranges close to a particular value. For example, "The city is approximately 50 miles from here," or "The event will start in approximately 10 minutes."

Related Terms

• Estimate: A rough calculation or judgment of a value or quantity.
• Approximation: A value or quantity that is close but not exact.
• Close to: Near a specific value or point.

Detailed Definitions

Adverb

• Close to or around a certain value or range: Used to indicate a near or rough estimate.
  • Example: "The population of the town is approximately 20,000."