Proximate
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A grammatical marker that distinguishes a relatively salient referent in a given context from a relatively non-salient (obviative) one.
- 1 Close or closest; adjacent. not-comparable
"And writing a Theory of the Deluge here, as we do, we were to exhibit a Series of causes whereby it might be made intelligible, or to shew^([sic]) the proximate Natural Causes of it; […]"
- 2 Immediately preceding or following in a chain of causation. not-comparable
- 3 About to take place; impending. not-comparable
- 1 very close in space or time wordnet
- 2 closest in degree or order (space or time) especially in a chain of causes and effects wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"On the 22nd of March of 2022, I went to the pizzeria twice, in the morning and in the afternoon. I went to the cafe to have Strawberry Coconut Drink in the crowded afternoon. Sitting at different, but proximate tables, were Don, a white man with glasses, and Chen, a stocky Chinese. They were talking. Don was about the same age group as my younger brother Paolo; both went to Rideau Elementary School, whilst I went to Errington Elementary School. I remembered that the Rideau school field was just mounds of dirt with an impromptu mountain bike circulating racetrack. There were red poppies growing. I imagined Star Wars' Jawas lurking in the mounds. It was the late 1970s."
Etymology
From Late Latin proximatus, past participle of proximare (“to draw near, approach”), from Latin proximus (“nearest”), superlative of prope (“near”).
Related phrases
More for "proximate"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.