The difference between Approximately and Near

When used as adverbs, approximately means imprecise but close to in quantity or amount, whereas near means having a small intervening distance with regard to something.


Near is also noun with the meaning: the left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.

Near is also preposition with the meaning: close to, in close proximity to.

Near is also verb with the meaning: to come closer to.

Near is also adjective with the meaning: physically close.

check bellow for the other definitions of Approximately and Near

  1. Approximately as an adverb:

    Imprecise but close to in quantity or amount.

    Examples:

    "In every box of matches there are approximately 40 matchsticks."

    "Per 100g of chocolate there are approximately 11.6g of saturated fat."

    "...approximately 60 beats per minute."

  1. Near as an adjective:

    Physically close.

  2. Near as an adjective:

    Closely connected or related.

  3. Near as an adjective:

    Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; intimate; dear.

    Examples:

    "a near friend"

  4. Near as an adjective:

    Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling.

    Examples:

    "a version near to the original"

  5. Near as an adjective:

    So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow.

    Examples:

    "a near escape"

  6. Near as an adjective (of an event):

    Approaching.

    Examples:

    "The end is near."

  7. Near as an adjective:

    Approximate, almost.

    Examples:

    "The two words are near synonyms."

  8. Near as an adjective (dated):

    Next to the driver, when he is on foot; on the left of an animal or a team.

    Examples:

    "the near ox; the near leg"

  9. Near as an adjective (obsolete):

    Immediate; direct; close; short.

  10. Near as an adjective (obsolete, slang):

    Stingy; parsimonious.

  1. Near as an adverb:

    Having a small intervening distance with regard to something.

    Examples:

    "I'm near-sighted."

  2. Near as an adverb (colloquial):

    nearly

  1. Near as a preposition:

    Close to, in close proximity to.

    Examples:

    "There are habitable planets orbiting many of the stars near our Sun."

  2. Near as a preposition:

    Close to in time.

    Examples:

    "The voyage was near completion."

  1. Near as a verb (ambitransitive):

    To come closer to; to approach.

    Examples:

    "The ship nears the land."

  1. Near as a noun:

    The left side of a horse or of a team of horses pulling a carriage etc.