Approaching
Approaching adjective - Being soon to appear or take place.
Close and approaching are semantically related In some cases you can use "Close" instead an adjective "Approaching".
Close
Close adjective - Not being distant in time, space, or significance.
Usage example: these words are close synonyms
Approaching and close are semantically related in near topic. Sometimes you can use "Approaching" instead an adjective "Close", if it concerns topics such as imminent.
Both words in one sentence
- The "deer in the headlights" look comes when the deer picks up the approaching car but has yet to get close enough for its internal GTFO alarm to trip.
Source: Deer in the Headlights -
Mario Super Sluggers has these when the ball and a runner approaching 3rd base or home are close.
Source: Action Commands - In one part of the first KoTOR game this is justified; the two lovers trail off as they see angry parents approaching, but before said parents are close enough to shout most effectively.
Source: Paused Interrupt
Cite this Source
Close and Approaching. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/approaching/close
Approaching & Close. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/approaching/close>.
Close or Approaching. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/approaching/close.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "approaching" and "close" have occurred on timeline