To approach means to come closer to something or someone, either physically or in time. When you walk toward your teacher's desk, you're approaching it. When your birthday gets nearer, you might say “my birthday is approaching.” A storm approaching from the west will arrive soon.

The word also describes how you deal with a problem or task. Your approach to a difficult math problem might be to break it into smaller steps, while your friend's approach might be to draw a picture first. A coach's approach to training could focus on building skills gradually, while another coach's approach might emphasize competition. When someone asks “How should we approach this?” they're asking about the best way to handle or think about something.

Scientists and researchers use approach when they get closer to understanding something: “The team is approaching a breakthrough in their research.” You can also approach a goal, like approaching fluency in Spanish after years of study.

Notice that approach suggests movement or progress toward something, whether that's a physical place, a moment in time, or a solution to a problem.