acercando
“acercando” means “approaching” in Spanish (moving closer (often reflexive, 'acercándose')).
approaching, getting closer
Also: drawing near
📝 In Action
Mira el coche, se está acercando muy rápido.
A2Look at the car, it is approaching very quickly.
La fecha del examen final se está acercando.
B1The date of the final exam is getting closer.
Estamos acercando los muebles a la pared para tener más espacio.
B1We are moving the furniture closer to the wall to have more space.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acercando
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'acercando' to mean 'The cat is getting closer to the door'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'acercar' comes from combining the Latin prefix 'ad-' (meaning 'to' or 'toward') with the Spanish word 'cerca' (meaning 'near'). It literally means 'to make near'.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'acercando' a verb tense?
No, 'acercando' is a gerund (or present participle). It cannot be used alone as a main verb. You must combine it with a conjugated verb, usually 'estar' (e.g., 'está acercando') to form a continuous tense.
What is the difference between 'acercando' and 'acercándose'?
'Acercando' means *bringing* something else closer (transitive). 'Acercándo**se**' means the subject is moving *itself* closer, like 'I am approaching' (reflexive).