Approximately Symbol on Keyboard

Copy ≈, the approximately symbol, or type it with Alt+247; the about sign ~ is already a key.

≈Almost equal toU+2248Ready to copy

36 approximately signs and look-alikes. Tap any value to copy it.

36 approximately signs and look-alikes. A character and its name both copy the character. A code copies the code.
Character	Name	Code point	Alt code	Option keys	HTML	LaTeX
	U+2248. Roughly equal, as in π ≈ 3.14: two wavy lines, first printed in 1892 in a slightly different form. Typed with Alt+247, with Option+X on the U.S. layout, or with Compose, ~, ~. ≈ in a web page.
	U+007E. The sign for about that the keyboard already has: Shift and the key left of 1 on the U.S. layout. ~30 minutes reads about 30 minutes.
	U+2243. A tilde over one bar. It claims asymptotic equality, two expressions that agree in the limit, and is often seen where ≈ is meant.
	U+2245. A tilde over two bars. Unicode names it Approximately equal to, yet its usual claim is congruent: figures of the same shape and size.
	U+223C. The tilde as an operator, set at mid height. Between two things it claims similar to, proportional to or of the same order of magnitude, depending on the book.
	U+2252. An equals sign with a dot up left and a dot down right. Unicode's other name for it: nearly equals. In Japan, Taiwan and Korea it does the work of ≈. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb.
	Made of U+007E, 1 and 0: about ten, the tilde written before the number.
	Made of U+2248, 1 and 0: approximately ten.
	U+224A. ≈ resting on a single straight stroke. Its name is its claim: the two sides match, or very nearly. Its macro needs amssymb.
	U+2A70. ≈ with a whole equals sign under it. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
	U+2A6F. The two wavy lines with a circumflex, the hat accent, set on top. One of the math operators added in 2002.
	U+223D. The tilde turned left to right. Unicode's other name for it: lazy S. It sometimes stands for proportional to. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb.
	U+02DC. A narrow tilde raised to accent height that takes up its own space. An accent shown alone, not a sign for about. Alt+0152, or Option+Shift+N on the U.S. layout.
	U+FF5E. The wide tilde of East Asian text, often typed where the wave dash belongs.
	U+2053. A long tilde on the line. Dictionaries print it in place of the entry word. In Unicode since version 4.0 (2003).
	U+301C. The wavy dash of Japanese text, where it can stand between the two ends of a range.
	U+224B. One wavy line more than ≈. &apid; in a web page.
	U+2242. A straight line on top and a wavy one beneath. Where it is used it claims equal up to a constant. \eqsim needs amssymb.
	U+2253. The mirror form of ≒: the dots sit down left and up right. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb.
	U+2A85. A less-than sign over ≈: less than, or roughly equal. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
	U+2A86. A greater-than sign over ≈: greater than, or roughly equal. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
	U+2272. Less-than with a tilde lying where ≤ has its bar: less than or equivalent to, in Unicode's words. \lesssim needs amssymb.
	U+2273. Greater-than with a tilde lying where ≥ has its bar: greater than or equivalent to, in Unicode's words. \gtrsim needs amssymb.
	U+2249. ≈ with a stroke through it: the two sides are not even close.
	U+2247. The congruent sign canceled by a slanted stroke: neither roughly nor exactly equal, or not congruent. \ncong needs amssymb.
	U+2246. ≅ with a stroke through its two bars: close, and not equal.
	U+2244. ≃ with a stroke through it.
	U+2241. The mid-height tilde canceled by a slanted stroke, for two things that are not alike. \nsim needs amssymb.
	U+2A89. A less-than sign over a struck ≈. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
	U+2A8A. A greater-than sign over a struck ≈. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
	Made of a, U+2248 and b with no spaces: the bare pattern of an approximation, ready for two numbers of your own.
	Made of x, U+007E and y: the keyboard tilde between two letters, read as x and y having the same order of magnitude.
	U+223F. One full wave. Unicode's other name for it: alternating current. It claims nothing about equality.
	U+3030. A dash with several waves. It has the Emoji property, so an app may draw it as an emoji.
	U+2307. The one wave on this page that runs from top to bottom instead of from left to right.
	U+FE4F. A wave lying on the baseline, as a wavy underline would.

Next step Alt+247 beside every other Alt code ≅ and ≡, the congruent signs

How it works

The approximately symbol is ≈, Almost equal to, U+2248. Its Alt code is 247, and Option+X types it on the U.S. layout. The quick sign for about, the tilde ~, is on the keyboard already.

Read the full guide

Five signs that look alike

≈ claims roughly equal: π ≈ 3.14. A tilde before a number says about: ~30 minutes. ≃ is asymptotic equality, ≅ is congruent, and ∼ is similar to or of the same order of magnitude. Books differ, and some use ≈ and ~ the other way around.

Typing ≈

Alt+247 on a number pad, Option+X on the U.S. layout, or Compose, ~, ~ with a Compose key. In a web page it is ≈, and in LaTeX \approx.

Where short codes follow code page 850, Alt+247 types ¸, a cedilla, and not ≈.
≒ does the work of ≈ in Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
The approx sign ≈ was first printed in 1892, in a slightly different form.

Questions and answers

What is the approximate symbol on the keyboard?

The tilde, ~, is the nearest key: ~5 reads about 5. On the U.S. layout it is Shift and the key left of 1. The two-line approximate sign, ≈, a squiggly equal sign, has no key of its own; Alt+247 or Option+X types it.

What is the Alt code for approximately?

Alt+247. Hold Alt, type 247 on the number pad and let go, and ≈ appears. There is no four-digit code for it, because the second Alt code table does not hold ≈.

How do I type the about symbol on a keyboard?

Hold Shift and press the tilde key, left of 1 on the U.S. layout, for ~. Written before a number it means about or around. For the two-line sign ≈, copy it or type Alt+247.

What is the difference between ≈ and ≅?

≈ is for numbers that are roughly equal. ≅, a tilde over an equals sign, is commonly the sign for congruent figures, although Unicode names it Approximately equal to. ≃, with one bar, is asymptotic equality.

Is there a symbol for not approximately equal?

Yes: ≉, Not almost equal to, U+2249, which is ≈ with a stroke through it. In a web page it is &nap;. Neither Alt code table holds it, and it has no LaTeX macro of its own.

All 36 approximately signs and look-alikes

Start here 8

About ten, with the tilde Made of U+007E, 1 and 0: about ten, the tilde written before the number.
Almost equal to U+2248. Roughly equal, as in π ≈ 3.14: two wavy lines, first printed in 1892 in a slightly different form. Typed with Alt+247, with Option+X on the U.S. layout, or with Compose, ~, ~. ≈ in a web page.
Approximately equal to U+2245. A tilde over two bars. Unicode names it Approximately equal to, yet its usual claim is congruent: figures of the same shape and size.
Approximately equal to or the image of U+2252. An equals sign with a dot up left and a dot down right. Unicode's other name for it: nearly equals. In Japan, Taiwan and Korea it does the work of ≈. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb.
Approximately ten Made of U+2248, 1 and 0: approximately ten.
Asymptotically equal to U+2243. A tilde over one bar. It claims asymptotic equality, two expressions that agree in the limit, and is often seen where ≈ is meant.
Tilde U+007E. The sign for about that the keyboard already has: Shift and the key left of 1 on the U.S. layout. ~30 minutes reads about 30 minutes.
Tilde operator U+223C. The tilde as an operator, set at mid height. Between two things it claims similar to, proportional to or of the same order of magnitude, depending on the book.

Show all 36 approximately signs and look-alikes (28 more)

Almost and approximately equal 3

Almost equal or equal to U+224A. ≈ resting on a single straight stroke. Its name is its claim: the two sides match, or very nearly. Its macro needs amssymb.
Almost equal to with circumflex accent U+2A6F. The two wavy lines with a circumflex, the hat accent, set on top. One of the math operators added in 2002.
Approximately equal or equal to U+2A70. ≈ with a whole equals sign under it. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).

Tildes 7

Fullwidth tilde U+FF5E. The wide tilde of East Asian text, often typed where the wave dash belongs.
Minus tilde U+2242. A straight line on top and a wavy one beneath. Where it is used it claims equal up to a constant. \eqsim needs amssymb.
Reversed tilde U+223D. The tilde turned left to right. Unicode's other name for it: lazy S. It sometimes stands for proportional to. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb.
Small tilde U+02DC. A narrow tilde raised to accent height that takes up its own space. An accent shown alone, not a sign for about. Alt+0152, or Option+Shift+N on the U.S. layout.
Swung dash U+2053. A long tilde on the line. Dictionaries print it in place of the entry word. In Unicode since version 4.0 (2003).
Triple tilde U+224B. One wavy line more than ≈. &apid; in a web page.
Wave dash U+301C. The wavy dash of Japanese text, where it can stand between the two ends of a range.

Asymptotic and image signs 1

Image of or approximately equal to U+2253. The mirror form of ≒: the dots sit down left and up right. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb.

Roughly greater or less 4

Greater-than or approximate U+2A86. A greater-than sign over ≈: greater than, or roughly equal. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
Greater-than or equivalent to U+2273. Greater-than with a tilde lying where ≥ has its bar: greater than or equivalent to, in Unicode's words. \gtrsim needs amssymb.
Less-than or approximate U+2A85. A less-than sign over ≈: less than, or roughly equal. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
Less-than or equivalent to U+2272. Less-than with a tilde lying where ≤ has its bar: less than or equivalent to, in Unicode's words. \lesssim needs amssymb.

Not approximately 7

Approximately but not actually equal to U+2246. ≅ with a stroke through its two bars: close, and not equal.
Greater-than and not approximate U+2A8A. A greater-than sign over a struck ≈. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
Less-than and not approximate U+2A89. A less-than sign over a struck ≈. Its LaTeX macro needs amssymb. In Unicode since version 3.2 (2002).
Neither approximately nor actually equal to U+2247. The congruent sign canceled by a slanted stroke: neither roughly nor exactly equal, or not congruent. \ncong needs amssymb.
Not almost equal to U+2249. ≈ with a stroke through it: the two sides are not even close.
Not asymptotically equal to U+2244. ≃ with a stroke through it.
Not tilde U+2241. The mid-height tilde canceled by a slanted stroke, for two things that are not alike. \nsim needs amssymb.

Ready-made 2

a approximately equal to b Made of a, U+2248 and b with no spaces: the bare pattern of an approximation, ready for two numbers of your own.
x of the same order as y Made of x, U+007E and y: the keyboard tilde between two letters, read as x and y having the same order of magnitude.

Wavy look-alikes 4

Sine wave U+223F. One full wave. Unicode's other name for it: alternating current. It claims nothing about equality.
Wavy dash U+3030. A dash with several waves. It has the Emoji property, so an app may draw it as an emoji.
Wavy line U+2307. The one wave on this page that runs from top to bottom instead of from left to right.
Wavy low line U+FE4F. A wave lying on the baseline, as a wavy underline would.

How this list was compiled: Names, and the code points they belong to, are checked against UnicodeData.txt, version 18.0.0 (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/UnicodeData.txt), and printed in sentence case. Notes that begin Unicode's note quote NamesList.txt of the same version (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/NamesList.txt); the version a character was added in is from DerivedAge.txt (https://www.unicode.org/Public/18.0.0/ucd/DerivedAge.txt), block names are from Blocks.txt, and the years are from https://www.unicode.org/history/publicationdates.html. Alt codes are from the code page 437 table (https://www.unicode.org/Public/MAPPINGS/VENDORS/MICSFT/PC/CP437.TXT), the PC graphics table for codes 1 to 31 (https://www.unicode.org/Public/MAPPINGS/VENDORS/MISC/IBMGRAPH.TXT) and the code page 1252 table (https://www.unicode.org/Public/MAPPINGS/VENDORS/MICSFT/WINDOWS/CP1252.TXT). Option keys are those of the U.S. keyboard layout as CLDR records it (https://github.com/unicode-org/cldr/blob/release-42/keyboards/osx/en-t-k0-osx.xml); other layouts differ. HTML entity names are from https://html.spec.whatwg.org/entities.json. LaTeX macros are listed only when LaTeX's own fontdef.dtx, ltoutenc.dtx or utf8ienc.dtx (https://github.com/latex3/latex2e/tree/develop/base) or the amssymb source (https://ctan.org/pkg/amsfonts) defines them, matched to a code point through unicode-math-table.tex (https://github.com/latex3/unicode-math). Compose sequences are from the X.org en_US.UTF-8 Compose file (https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/lib/libx11/-/blob/master/nls/en_US.UTF-8/Compose.pre). The short code where code page 850 is in use: https://www.unicode.org/Public/MAPPINGS/VENDORS/MICSFT/PC/CP850.TXT. The rows hold every character whose Unicode name has the words almost equal or approximate, found by a search of UnicodeData.txt, less the arrow and set forms, four ordering signs and two combining marks of phonetic writing. What each sign claims, the year the almost-equal sign was first printed, the sign used in Japan, Taiwan and Korea and that books swap the two signs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximation. The tilde for about, the same order of magnitude, the swung dash and the wave dash: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilde. Both read on 2026-10-02 and restated in this site's own words. The Start here group, the made rows and the order are this site's own choice. Licence: own work (facts from the Unicode Character Database, Unicode License v3, and from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, restated in this site's own words; aliases and notes marked as Unicode's are quoted from NamesList.txt, Copyright © 1991-2026 Unicode, Inc., https://www.unicode.org/license.txt)