acercar

/aθeɾˈkaɾ/

verb★Intermediate

formal

to bring closer or nearer

La policía se acercó al sospechoso.

The police brought the suspect closer.

informal

to approach or get closer to something or someone

Me acerqué a la ventana para mirar.

I approached the window to look.

acercar algoto bring something closeracercarse a alguiento approach someone

acercarse aphrasal verb

to approach or get closer to

Be careful with the reflexive form 'acercarse', which means 'to approach' or 'to get closer'.

From Latin 'circus', via Old Spanish 'acercar', meaning 'to bring near'

Used in both formal and informal contexts.

acer-

near

root

-car

to bring

suffix

✎ Noted on May 2, 2026ES → EN