Access — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈak-ˌses/ ac·cess

Meaning & Definition of Access

Access (noun)

  1. permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing
  2. freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something
  3. a way or means of entering or approaching

Access (verb)

  1. to get at, to gain access to
  2. to be able to use, enter, or get near (something)
  3. to open or load (a computer file, an Internet site, etc.)

Access (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder

    "a sudden access of hay fever was making him feel miserable"

    similar: attack, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell, turn
    related: recurrence, relapse, brainstorm, convulsion, eclampsia, pang, paroxysm, spasm, throe, agitation, frenzy, breakdown, collapse, prostration
    near: arrest, relief, remission

  2. the means or right of entering or participating in

    "in the evening the only access to the building is through the side door"

    similar: accession, admission, admittance, door, doorway, entrance, entrée, entry, gateway, ingress, key, passport, ticket
    related: approval, authorization, certification, permission, qualification, open door, welcome mat
    near: discharge, dismissal, ejection, expulsion, ouster, rejection, removal

Access (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go or come in or into

    "could not access the bank vault because the lock was controlled by a timer"

    similar: enter, penetrate, pierce, set foot in, step into
    related: barge (in), breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in), drop in, pop (in), stray (into), wander (into), crash, encroach, gate-crash, infiltrate, infringe, intrude, invade, trespass
    opposite: depart, exit, leave

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Access

The most common words with a similar meaning to Access:

attack, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell, turn, accession, admission, admittance, door, doorway, entrance, entrée, entry, gateway, ingress, key, passport, ticket, enter, penetrate, pierce, set foot in, step into

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Access

Words with the opposite meaning of Access:

depart, exit, leave

Related Words for Access

recurrence, relapse, brainstorm, convulsion, eclampsia, pang, paroxysm, spasm, throe, agitation, frenzy, breakdown, collapse, prostration, approval, authorization, certification, permission, qualification, open door, welcome mat, barge (in), breeze (in), burst (in or into), waltz (in), drop in, pop (in), stray (into), wander (into), crash

Near Antonyms of Access

arrest, relief, remission, discharge, dismissal, ejection, expulsion, ouster, rejection, removal

Word Forms of Access

Inflections: accessed, accessing, accesses

Origin & Etymology of Access

Middle English, "entrance, approach, attack of illness, fever, lovesickness," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French acces "attack of illness," (Old French also "liberty to approach"), borrowed from Latin accessus "approach, means of entry, right of approach, onset (of fever or illness)," action noun derived from accēdere "to approach" accede

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Access

Words & Phrases Containing Access

access provider, access time, limited-access, random-access, random-access memory, remote access, gain/get access to, grant/deny access to

Frequently Asked Questions about Access

What does "Access" mean?

"Access" means permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Access"?

Other words for "Access" include attack, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell and turn. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Access" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Access"?

There are 63 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Access". Common alternatives include attack, bout, case, fit, seizure, siege, spell, turn, accession and admission.

What is the opposite of "Access"?

Antonyms of "Access" include depart, exit and leave. Near antonyms include arrest, relief, remission and discharge.

How do you use "Access" in a sentence?

Examples of "Access" in a sentence: "a sudden access of hay fever was making him feel miserable"; "in the evening the only access to the building is through the side door"; "could not access the bank vault because the lock was controlled by a timer".

Is "Access" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Access" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Access" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Access" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Access"?

"Access" is pronounced /ˈak-ˌses/ and divided into syllables as ac·cess.