All 36 Uses of

approach
in
Wuthering Heights

The business of eating being concluded, and no one uttering a word of sociable conversation, I approached a window to examine the weather.
p. 9.7

approached = went near

To my confusion, I discovered the yell was not ideal: hasty footsteps approached my chamber door; somebody pushed it open, with a vigorous hand, and a light glimmered through the squares at the top of the bed.
p. 18.0

approached = moved nearer

'Who is that?' he asked, hearing some one approaching the stairs'-foot.
p. 53.1

approaching = coming toward

It was a very dark evening for summer: the clouds appeared inclined to thunder, and I said we had better all sit down; the approaching rain would be certain to bring him home without further trouble.
p. 60.9

approaching = coming

They flew off at my approach, and he raised his eyes and spoke: 'She's dead!' he said; 'I've not waited for you to learn that.'
p. 121.0

approach = getting near

'And I'm resolved she shall never approach your house with me again,' I returned, as we reached the gate, where Miss Cathy waited our coming.
p. 156.7

approach = get near

'Oh, I hope you'll die in a garret, starved to death!' said the boy, mistaking our approach for that of his negligent attendant.
p. 172.1

approach = getting near

'I've prayed often,' he half soliloquised, 'for the approach of what is coming; and now I begin to shrink, and fear it.'
p. 186.6

approach = coming

He lay on the heath, awaiting our approach, and did not rise till we came within a few yards.
p. 189.3

approach = getting near

And so we left him, scarcely conscious of our departure, so absorbed was he in anticipating his father's approach.
p. 191.9 *

I knew no living thing in flesh and blood was by; but, as certainly as you perceive the approach to some substantial body in the dark, though it cannot be discerned, so certainly I felt that Cathy was there: not under me, but on the earth.
p. 210.3

approach = coming near

I did not mind their skirmishes: but Hareton was often obliged to seek the kitchen also, when the master wanted to have the house to himself! and though in the beginning she either left it at his approach, or quietly joined in my occupations, and shunned remarking or addressing him — and though he was always as sullen and silent as possible — after a while, she changed her behaviour, and became incapable of letting him alone: talking at him; commenting on his stupidity and idleness;…
p. 225.7

approach = getting near

Then turning to Catherine, who was there, and who drew behind me at his approach, he added, half sneeringly, — 'Will YOU come, chuck?'
p. 243.2

approach = coming near

'THEY are afraid of nothing,' I grumbled, watching their approach through the window.
p. 245.4

Having approached this structure, I looked inside, and perceived it to be a singular sort of oldfashioned couch, very conveniently designed to obviate the necessity for every member of the family having a room to himself.†
p. 13.1

I turned about to discover who spoke, fearfully; for the doors were shut, and I had seen nobody on approaching the steps.†
p. 66.9

The fellow approached and gave the chair on which Linton rested a push.†
p. 84.2

I approached, and, attempting to take his chubby fist, said — 'How do you do, my dear?'†
p. 100.0

As I spoke, I observed a large dog lying on the sunny grass beneath raise its ears as if about to bark, and then smoothing them back, announce, by a wag of the tail, that some one approached whom it did not consider a stranger.†
p. 114.9

He flung himself into the nearest seat, and on my approaching hurriedly to ascertain if she had fainted, he gnashed at me, and foamed like a mad dog, and gathered her to him with greedy jealousy.†
p. 117.2

Gimmerton was an unsubstantial name in her ears; the chapel, the only building she had approached or entered, except her own home.†
p. 137.9

I picked up her hat, and approached to reinstate it; but perceiving that the people of the house took her part, she commenced capering round the room; and on my giving chase, ran like a mouse over and under and behind the furniture, rendering it ridiculous for me to pursue.†
p. 141.5

I was much vexed at her and the servant for their mutual revelations; having no doubt of Linton's approaching arrival, communicated by the former, being reported to Mr. Heathcliff; and feeling as confident that Catherine's first thought on her father's return would be to seek an explanation of the latter's assertion concerning her rude-bred kindred.†
p. 142.8

I had applied the last, and found that none would do; so, repeating my desire that she would remain there, I was about to hurry home as fast as I could, when an approaching sound arrested me.†
p. 169.4

He approached once more, and made as if he would seize the fragile being; but, shrinking back, Linton clung to his cousin, and implored her to accompany him, with a frantic importunity that admitted no denial.†
p. 195.7

On the fifth morning, or rather afternoon, a different step approached — lighter and shorter; and, this time, the person entered the room.†
p. 201.9

'Nobody,' said Zillah, 'ever approached her door, except that once, but I ...and nobody asked anything about her.†
p. 213.9

We entered together; Catherine was there, making herself useful in preparing some vegetables for the approaching meal; she looked more sulky and less spirited than when I had seen her first.†
p. 217.1

I approached her, pretending to desire a view of the garden; and, as I fancied, adroitly dropped Mrs. Dean's note on to her knee, unnoticed by Hareton — but she asked aloud, 'What is that?'†
p. 217.4

'Nelly, there is a strange change approaching; I'm in its shadow at present.†
p. 234.9

'I must blow the coals red first, before I can carry any,' I replied, getting a chair and the bellows He roamed to and fro, meantime, in a state approaching distraction; his heavy sighs succeeding each other so thick as to leave no space for common breathing between.†
p. 241.9

Definitions:

(1) (approach as in: approached the city)
to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
(2) (approach as in: use the best approach)
a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
(3) (approach as in: approached her with the proposal)
to begin communication with someone about something -- often a proposal or a delicate topic
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

More rarely (and typically only in classic literature), the phrase nearest approach to as used in "her nearest approach to an apology" or "her nearest approach to a smile" typically means that "something is as close to something else as it ever gets." "As near an approach to" can have a similar meaning.