What does approximately mean?
"Approximately" is an adverb used to signal that a stated figure is an estimate rather than an exact value. It appears most often directly before numbers — "approximately 300 guests," "approximately two hours," "approximately $1,000" — and tells the reader or listener that the true figure lies close to the one given without being identical to it. The word carries a neutral, matter-of-fact tone and is equally at home in scientific papers, news reports, budgets, and everyday conversation, though informal speech often prefers looser alternatives such as "about" or "roughly." Its authority comes from precision about imprecision: it makes clear that a number is deliberately rounded rather than carelessly guessed. Derived from the Latin verb approximare, meaning "to draw near," it belongs to a family of words concerned with closeness, including "proximity" and "proximate." Because estimates pervade science, commerce, and daily planning, "approximately" remains one of the most quietly indispensable adverbs in English.
adverbUsed to indicate that a number, amount, or time is close to the exact figure but not precisely so; it signals an estimate rather than an exact value.
- Indicating that a quantity, measurement, or time is close to a stated value but not exact; used chiefly before numbers and figures.
"The project will take approximately six months to complete."
"The flight takes approximately eleven hours from London to Sydney."
"Approximately 200 people attended the opening night."
The word comes from Latin approximare — literally "to draw near" — so every time you say a cost is "approximately $50," you're using a word whose original job was simply getting closer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of approximately
"Approximately" derives from the Latin verb approximare, formed from ad- ("to, toward") plus proximus ("nearest"), literally meaning "to draw near." The word entered English in the early modern period alongside related terms such as "approximate" and "approximation," which were first used in mathematical contexts describing values that approach but do not equal a target. It shares this Latin root with cognates including "proximity," "proximate," and "approach," all built on the idea of nearness.
Related word forms
How approximately is actually used
Register is neutral-to-formal; it is standard in scientific, technical, and business writing where estimates must be stated clearly. In casual speech, people more often say "about," "roughly," or "around." It is almost always followed by a number or numerical expression.
Easily confused with approximately
"Approximate" is an adjective or verb describing something that is near but not exact, while "approximately" is the adverb used before a figure to mean "close to but not exactly."