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Approximate vs. Exact — What's the Difference?

Approximate vs. Exact — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Approximate and Exact

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Approximate

Almost exact or correct
The approximate time of the accident.

Exact

Not approximated in any way; precise
The exact details were still being worked out

Approximate

Very similar; closely resembling
Sketched an approximate likeness of the suspect.

Exact

Demand and obtain (something) from someone
He exacted promises that another Watergate would never be allowed to happen

Approximate

(Botany) Close together but not united.
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Exact

Strictly and completely in accord with fact; not deviating from truth or reality
An exact account.
An exact replica.
Your exact words.

Approximate

To come close to; be nearly the same as
This meat substitute approximates the real thing.

Exact

Characterized by accurate measurements or inferences with small margins of error; not approximate
An exact figure.
An exact science.

Approximate

To bring near.

Exact

Characterized by strict adherence to standards or rules
An exact speaker.

Approximate

To bring together, as cut edges of tissue.

Exact

To force the payment or yielding of; extort
Exact tribute from a conquered people.

Approximate

To come near or close, as in degree, nature, or quality.

Exact

To demand and obtain by force or authority
A harsh leader who exacts obedience.

Approximate

Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

Exact

To inflict (vengeance or punishment, for example).

Approximate

Nearing correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate.
Approximate results or values
NASA's Genesis spacecraft has on board an ion monitor to record the speed, density, temperature and approximate composition of the solar wind ions.

Exact

Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.
The clock keeps exact time.
He paid the exact debt.
An exact copy of a letter
Exact accounts

Approximate

(ambitransitive) To estimate.
I approximated the value of pi by taking 22 divided by 7.

Exact

Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.
A man exact in observing an appointment
In my doings I was exact.

Approximate

(transitive) To come near to; to approach.

Exact

Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.

Approximate

(transitive) To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

Exact

Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

Approximate

Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

Exact

(ambitransitive) To demand and enforce the payment or performance of, sometimes in a forcible or imperious way.
To exact tribute, fees, or obedience from someone

Approximate

Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate; as, approximate results or values.

Exact

(transitive) To make desirable or necessary.

Approximate

To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.
To approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature.

Exact

(transitive) To inflict; to forcibly obtain or produce.
To exact revenge on someone

Approximate

To come near to; to approach.
The telescope approximates perfection.

Exact

Exactly
She's wearing the exact same sweater as I am!

Approximate

To draw; to approach.

Exact

Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect; true; correct; precise; as, the clock keeps exact time; he paid the exact debt; an exact copy of a letter; exact accounts.
I took a great pains to make out the exact truth.

Approximate

Be close or similar;
Her results approximate my own

Exact

Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual; as, a man exact in observing an appointment; in my doings I was exact.

Approximate

Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds

Exact

Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
An exact command,Larded with many several sorts of reason.

Approximate

Not quite exact or correct;
The approximate time was 10 o'clock
A rough guess
A ballpark estimate

Exact

To demand or require authoritatively or peremptorily, as a right; to enforce the payment of, or a yielding of; to compel to yield or to furnish; hence, to wrest, as a fee or reward when none is due; - followed by from or of before the one subjected to exaction; as, to exact tribute, fees, obedience, etc., from or of some one.
He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
Years of servise pastFrom grateful souls exact reward at last
My designsExact me in another place.

Approximate

Very close in resemblance;
Sketched in an approximate likeness
A near likeness

Exact

To practice exaction.
The anemy shall not exact upon him.

Approximate

Located close together;
With heads close together
Approximate leaves grow together but are not united

Exact

Claim as due or just;
The bank demanded payment of the loan

Exact

Take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs;
The accident claimed three lives
The hard work took its toll on her

Exact

Marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact;
An exact mind
An exact copy
Hit the exact center of the target

Exact

(of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth ; strictly correct;
A precise image
A precise measurement

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