What does "access" mean?
A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.
Access
/ˈæksɛs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.
- Grammar: access is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: admittance, abdominal epilepsy, access code, accessibility.
- Useful contrasts: barrera, barrier, block.
- Usage evidence: Let's stay somewhere with easy airport access.
How to use "access"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "access" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "access" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "access" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "access" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "access" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "admittance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "access", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage. uncountable
"The door provides access to the premises."
- 2 the act of approaching or entering wordnet
- 3 The act of approaching or entering; an advance. uncountable
"They gained access to the basement from the stairs."
- 4 a way of entering or leaving wordnet
- 5 The right or ability of approaching or entering; admittance; admission; accessibility. uncountable
"Staff prevent unauthorized access to the building."
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 (computer science) the operation of reading or writing stored information wordnet
- 7 The quality of being easy to approach or enter. uncountable
"ease of access"
- 8 the right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership) wordnet
- 9 Admission to sexual intercourse. uncountable
"During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown."
- 10 the right to enter wordnet
- 11 An increase by addition; accession archaic, countable
"an access of territory"
- 12 a code (a series of characters or digits) that must be entered in some way (typed or dialed or spoken) to get the use of something (a telephone line or a computer or a local area network etc.) wordnet
- 13 An onset, attack, or fit of disease; an ague fit. countable
"The first access looked like an apoplexy."
- 14 An outburst of an emotion; a paroxysm; a fit of passion. countable
"The Magpie's flashlight, as he shifted it from his right hand to his left and wrenched out his revolver, had fallen upon two men crouched close against the wall by the library door—and he screamed out in an access of fury. "De double cross! A plant! De bulls! You damned snitch, Larry!" screamed out the Magpie—and fired."
- 15 The right of a noncustodial parent to visit their child. uncountable
- 16 The process of locating data in memory. countable
"Operations on C++ volatiles do put the compiler on notice that the object may be modified asynchronously, and hence are generally safer to use than ordinary variable accesses."
- 17 Connection to or communication with a computer program or to the Internet. uncountable
- 18 Complicity or assent. Scotland, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To gain or obtain access to. transitive
"The value of having in-house medical expertise is that staff with poor attendance records who have difficulty accessing NHS services can receive support from their employer, to help reduce absenteeism brought about by medical conditions."
- 2 reach or gain access to wordnet
- 3 To have access to (data). transitive
"I can't access most of the data on the computer without a password."
- 4 obtain or retrieve from a storage device; as of information on a computer wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Let's stay somewhere with easy airport access."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "access"?
Common synonyms include: admittance, abdominal epilepsy, access code, accessibility, accessing, accession.
How do you use "access" in a sentence?
Let's stay somewhere with easy airport access.
How do you pronounce "access"?
Pronounced /ˈæksɛs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English accesse, acces, borrowed from Middle French acces (“attack, onslaught”) or from its source Latin accessus, perfect passive participle of accēdō (“approach; accede”), from ad (“to, toward, at”) + cēdō (“move, yield”). Doublet of accessus. First attested in the early 14th century. The sense "entrance" was first attested about 1380.
Etymology 2
First attested in 1962.