approximately

adverb

ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət-lē How to pronounce approximately (audio)
Definition of approximatelynext
as in roughly
close to but not exactly it takes approximately three hours to drive to Dallas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of approximately Meta made up approximately 69% of the smart glasses market in the first quarter of this year, according to IDC. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Over five years, researchers collected approximately 72 drinking water samples across 18 Miami-Dade ZIP codes and 75 samples across 22 ZIP codes in Palm Beach County. — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Also, August 8 is approximately the halfway mark of the season, another reason the doorway is activated. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026 The closest Keller residence will be approximately 506 feet from the building line. — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for approximately
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximately
  1. roughly
  2. about
  3. around
Adverb
  • About 30 minutes earlier and roughly a mile away, police said two 19-year-olds were found shot on Banyan Wood Court in Essex.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Prices were roughly double 2025 rates, according to data group Lighthouse Intelligence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of roughly
Adverb
  • The trial begins with jury selection Monday and is expected to last about a month.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • How to Clean a Candle Jar Once jarred candles have about 1/2 inch of wax left, stop burning the candles to ensure the jars don’t break.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of about
Adverb
  • In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE at the premiere on Sunday, Hathaway opened up about how pregnancy feels different this time around in her 40s.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • These meteors are debris from comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle, entering Earth’s atmosphere at around 37 miles per second (59 kilometers per second), according to the American Meteor Society.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of around

Browse Nearby Words

approximated
approximately
approximates
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Approximately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximately. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on approximately

Nglish: Translation of approximately for Spanish Speakers

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