approximately
UK: əˈprɒksɪmətli | US: əˈprɑːksɪmətli
adv. close to an exact value or quantity but not completely precise
adv. nearly correct or accurate, but not exact
The word "approximately" originates from the Latin proximus (meaning "nearest"), combined with the prefix ad- (later assimilated to ap-), meaning "toward." The suffix -ate forms a verb, and -ly converts it into an adverb. The core idea is "moving toward nearness," reflecting its modern sense of rough estimation or closeness in value.
The journey takes approximately three hours by car.
The population of the city is approximately 2 million.
The measurements are approximately correct but need verification.
The project will cost approximately $50,000 to complete.
The temperature is expected to reach approximately 30°C tomorrow.