Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| adeō |
| subeō |
| adbītō |
| accēdō |
| appropinquō |
| appropiō |
The Latin verbs for approach describe the act of coming or going near in either place or time. For the act of drawing near in place or time, you can use the noun accessus.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb adeō is composed of the preposition ad (to/towards) and eō (I go), literally meaning 'I go towards'.
Which one should you use?
While adeō focuses on the physical movement of going towards something, accēdō often implies a more purposeful approach or the act of accessing or joining something. If you are describing drawing near in terms of time or distance, such as an approaching event or a destination, use appropinquō. The noun aditus refers to a physical way of approaching, such as an entrance, an access point or a way into a building.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb appropinquō takes the dative case, or ad with the accusative, for the thing being approached.
Did you know?
- The word 'accessus' does not just mean a way to approach, but in ancient medical texts, it can also refer to a 'sudden attack' or an onset of a disease.
- The verb appropinquō comes from propinquus, meaning 'near'. In Latin, this word can describe both physical proximity and being a close relative.
- While adeō means 'I go towards', the Latin root eō is the same one that gives us the English word 'exit', though 'exit' specifically means 'to go out'.
Examples in context
- Accedere ad aulam regisTo approach the king's court
- Incedere ad curiamTo approach the court
- Accedebam ad amicum meumI approached my friend
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are meeting in a garden.
- LuciusAurelia, ad tē adeō.Aurelia, I am coming to you.
- AureliaTe videō, Lūcie.I see you, Lucius.
- LuciusTū quoque hūc adī.You come here too.
- AureliaIam ad tē adeō.I am coming to you now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “approach” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
