2 meanings, 18 uses
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1 —5 uses as in:
approached the city
Definition
to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
- With these fears upon me, I began either to imagine or recall that I had had mysterious warnings of this man's approach.Chapter 39 (94% in)
approach = coming near
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Even with those aids, I might not have come to myself as soon as I did, but that I saw Estella approaching with the keys, to let me out.Chapter 8 (95% in)
- As the time approached I should have liked to run away, but the Avenger pursuant to orders was in the hall, and presently I heard Joe on the staircase.Chapter 27 (22% in)
- He was highly popular, and I found that he took the familiar department of Mr. Jaggers's business; though something of the state of Mr. Jaggers hung about him too, forbidding approach beyond certain limits.Chapter 32 (40% in)
- We arranged that Herbert should not come home to dinner before going to Mill Pond Bank that evening; that he should not go there at all to-morrow evening, Tuesday; that he should prepare Provis to come down to some stairs hard by the house, on Wednesday, when he saw us approach, and not sooner; that all the arrangements with him should be concluded that Monday night; and that he should be communicated with no more in any way, until we took him on board.Chapter 52 (44% in)
approaching = coming
approached = came near
approach = getting near
approach = get near
There are no more uses of "approach" flagged with this meaning in Great Expectations.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —2 uses as in:
approached her with the proposal
Definition
to begin communication with someone about something — often a proposal or a delicate topic
- Having thought of the matter with care, I approached my subject as if I had never hinted at it before.Chapter 37 (35% in)
approached = began talking about
- As the question had no bearing, near or remote, on any foregone or subsequent transaction, I consider it to have been thrown out, like her previous approaches, in general conversational condescension.Chapter 23 (6% in)
approaches = ways of engaging someone in conversation
There are no more uses of "approach" flagged with this meaning in Great Expectations.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
? —11 uses
exact meaning not specified
- By these approaches we arrived at unrestricted conversation.Chapter 57 (48% in)
- The way by which we approached it took us past the Three Jolly Bargemen, which we were surprised to find—it being eleven o'clock —in a state of commotion, with the door wide open, and unwonted lights that had been hastily caught up and put down scattered about.Chapter 15 (94% in)
- Joe and Biddy were very sympathetic and pleasant when I spoke of our approaching separation; but they only referred to it when I did.Chapter 19 (2% in)
- When I had ordered everything I wanted, I directed my steps towards Pumblechook's, and, as I approached that gentleman's place of business, I saw him standing at his door.Chapter 19 (44% in)
- "Here's Mike," said the clerk, getting down from his stool, and approaching Mr. Jaggers confidentially.Chapter 20 (74% in)
- And as to the condition on which you hold your advancement in life,—namely, that you are not to inquire or discuss to whom you owe it,—you may be very sure that it will never be encroached upon, or even approached, by me, or by any one belonging to me.Chapter 22 (58% in)
- Then, he conducted me to a bower about a dozen yards off, but which was approached by such ingenious twists of path that it took quite a long time to get at; and in this retreat our glasses were already set forth.Chapter 25 (60% in)
- Casting my eyes along the street at a certain point of my progress, I beheld Trabb's boy approaching, lashing himself with an empty blue bag.Chapter 30 (13% in)
- I had not advanced another two hundred yards when, to my inexpressible terror, amazement, and indignation, I again beheld Trabb's boy approaching.Chapter 30 (18% in)
- This led me to speculate whether any of them ever tumbled down, and then I fancied that I felt light falls on my face,—a disagreeable turn of thought, suggesting other and more objectionable approaches up my back.Chapter 45 (13% in)
- As we approached the point, I begged him to remain in a sheltered place, while I went on to reconnoitre; for it was towards it that the men had passed in the night.Chapter 54 (66% in)
There are no more uses of "approach" in Great Expectations.
Typical Usage
(best examples)