verbverb

approcher

approach

Se mettre plus près de quelqu’un ou de quelque chose.

Definition & meaning

Approcher is a French verb meaning to approach, come near, or bring closer. Its exact meaning depends on how it is used:

To come closer to something or someone: Le train approche means “The train is approaching.”
To bring something closer: Approcher une chaise de la table means “Move a chair closer to the table.”
To get close to a person, often to speak or make contact: Approcher quelqu’un means “Approach someone.”
To be near a point in time or an event: L’hiver approche means “Winter is approaching.”
In certain contexts, to tackle or address a subject or problem, though aborder is often more natural for this meaning.

The pronominal form s’approcher de means to get closer to or approach something or someone.

Grammar & Word origin

Approcher is a regular -er verb. It usually takes avoir in compound tenses: j’ai approché. It can be used with or without a direct object:

Approcher quelque chose: to bring something closer
Approcher de quelque chose: to come closer to something
S’approcher de quelque chose: to get closer to something

It derives from proche (), meaning “near” or “close.” Its historical origin is the Latin appropiare, “to draw near.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary with the sense:

Se rapprocher (): “to move closer”; often interchangeable with s’approcher de, but emphasizes decreasing the distance.
Avancer (): “to move forward”; it does not necessarily mean moving closer to a particular person or thing.
Aborder (): “to approach” someone or “address” a topic; it often emphasizes initiating contact or discussion.
Rapprocher (): “to bring closer”; unlike intransitive approcher, it specifically takes the sense of making things nearer to each other.

Common antonyms include:

S’éloigner (: “to move away”; the direct opposite of s’approcher.
Éloigner (: “to move or keep something away”; the opposite of the transitive sense “bring closer.”

Common phrases & collocations

S’approcher de quelqu’un ( — to approach someone
Approcher une chaise de la table ( — to move a chair closer to the table
L’heure approche ( — the time is approaching
Approcher quelqu’un pour lui parler ( — to approach someone to speak to them