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approach

/əˈpɹoʊt͡ʃ/
verbnoun

APPROACH meaning: coming near, or a way to reach a place; the word scores 17 points in Scrabble before board bonuses.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To come or go near, in place or time; to move toward; to advance nearer; to draw nigh.

    “She approached the door cautiously.”

  2. To play an approach shot.

  3. Used intransitively, followed by to: to draw near (to someone or something); to make advances; to approximate or become almost equal.

    “He approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.”

  4. To move toward (someone or something) in place, time, character, or value; to draw nearer to.

    ““Would counsel please approach the bench?” asked the judge.”

Noun 4 meanings

  1. An act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or coming near.

  2. An act of coming near in character or value; an approximation.

  3. An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access.

  4. A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English aprochen, borrowed from Old French aprochier (modern French approcher), from Late Latin appropiāre, a verb based on Latin prope (“near”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pro- (a variant of *per- (“before, in front; first”)) + *-kʷe (“suffix forming distributives from interrogatives”)).

APPROACH is an eight-letter word for moving closer, an approximation, or a route giving access to a place. You might approach a question by considering it from a particular angle, or follow an approach to a building. Its familiar spelling hides a useful score: the P pair and H carry more value than the other tiles.

APPROACH at a glance

  • APPROACH has eight letters and is a common English word.
  • Its Scrabble face value is 17 points, before any board bonuses.
  • The definition covers coming near, approximation, and a way of access.
  • There are no anagrams in the listed word-game sources.
  • Twelve listed rhymes share its final “ach” sound.

What does APPROACH mean?

APPROACH can mean the act of drawing near in place or time. “The train’s approach” describes its arrival getting closer; the word can also describe coming near in character or value, as in an approximation.

The noun also names a route or passage giving access to a place. An approach to a house is the way you reach it. As a verb, “approach the problem” means begin dealing with it, rather than physically moving toward it.

Why does APPROACH score 17 points?

The two P tiles and C are worth three points apiece, while H is worth four. The remaining A, R, and O tiles are each worth one point. Those letter values add up to 17 before premiums on the board.

The H is the scoring hinge: placing it on a double-letter square adds three extra points, while a triple-letter square adds nine. Keep the P pair in view, too; a word multiplier affects the whole word, not just its expensive tiles. Board placement changes the result, but the face value stays fixed.

Words that rhyme with APPROACH

Tip

APPROACH has 12 listed rhymes with the “ach” ending, including EACH, COACH, REACH, BEACH, TEACH, BREACH, PEACH, and PREACH. The set ranges from one-syllable words to longer STOMACH and OUTREACH.

Rhymes with approach

All rhymes

Questions people ask

Does APPROACH have any anagrams?
No, APPROACH has no anagrams in the listed word-game sources. Its letters are A, A, C, H, O, P, P, and R; rearranging those letters does not produce another entry in the anagram set. The repeated A and P do not create an alternate word here.
What rhymes with APPROACH?
Twelve listed words rhyme with APPROACH, including EACH, COACH, REACH, BEACH, TEACH, and PREACH. Longer examples include STOMACH and OUTREACH. For a close rhyme, focus on the shared “ach” sound rather than matching the spelling of every letter.
Is APPROACH worth 17 points in Scrabble?
Yes, APPROACH has a base Scrabble score of 17 points before board bonuses. The H is worth four, each P and the C are worth three, and the other tiles are worth one apiece. Letter and word premium squares can raise the total during play.

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