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to come near or nearer to:
The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.
to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison:
As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.
to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to:
to approach the president with a suggestion.
to begin work on; set about:
to approach a problem.
to make advances to; address.
to bring near to something.
to come nearer; draw near:
A storm is approaching.
to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
the act of drawing near:
the approach of a train.
nearness or close approximation:
a fair approach to accuracy.
any means of access, as a road or ramp:
the approaches to a city.
the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc.:
His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.
the course to be followed by an aircraft in approaching for a landing or in joining a traffic pattern:
The plane’s approach to the airport was hazardous.
Sometimes, approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.
approaches, Military. works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.
Also called approach shot. Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.
Bowling.

the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball:
He favors a four-step approach.
Also called runway. the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.

Contemporary Examples

We approached 1492, which is the company of Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliff.
How We Made ‘The Help’ Brunson Green August 12, 2011

As we approached, I could almost feel my blood pressure drop.
Monument Valley From the Eyes of a Krazy Kat and John Ford Fan Malcolm Jones February 2, 2012

“The media could have talked to my family and approached people in a respectful manner,” said Baldwin, who now lives in Seattle.
‘Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory’: Its Road to the Academy Awards Lorenza Muñoz February 21, 2012

But he was still averting his eyes from death, and his biographer says he approached the end in denial.
Three Great Men Died That Day: JFK, C.S. Lewis, and Aldous Huxley John Garth November 2, 2013

There was even talk from publicists who she says approached her about a clothing line and a possible Super Bowl ad.
Allen Withdraws? Kelley Loses Privacy? The Aftermath of the David Petraeus Scandal Howard Kurtz February 13, 2013

Historical Examples

Intemperance may be approached from the standpoint of disease or immorality.
Society Henry Kalloch Rowe

As I approached nearer I saw at every step new tokens of my friends.
Philothea Lydia Maria Child

In this spirit they approached every question which presented itself.
The Atlantic Monthly , Volume 2, No. 14, December 1858 Various

Aunt Jane approached a degree nearer the equator, and said, gently, “I fear I do.”
Malbone Thomas Wentworth Higginson

As I approached him he moved round, keeping the tree between us.
Watched by Wild Animals Enos A. Mills

verb
to come nearer in position, time, quality, character, etc, to (someone or something)
(transitive) to make advances to, as with a proposal, suggestion, etc
(transitive) to begin to deal with: to approach a problem
(transitive) (rare) to cause to come near
noun
the act of coming towards or drawing close or closer
a close approximation
the way or means of entering or leaving; access
(often pl) an advance or overture to a person
a means adopted in tackling a problem, job of work, etc
Also called approach path. the course followed by an aircraft preparing for landing
v.

c.1300, from Anglo-French approcher, Old French aprochier “approach, come closer” (12c., Modern French approcher), from Late Latin appropiare “go nearer to,” from Latin ad- “to” (see ad-) + Late Latin propiare “come nearer,” comparative of Latin prope “near” (see propinquity). Replaced Old English neahlæcan.
n.

mid-15c., from approach (v.). Figurative sense of “means of handling a problem, etc.” is first attested 1905.