access

1 of 2

noun

ac·​cess ˈak-ˌses How to pronounce access (audio)
also
ik-ˈses How to pronounce access (audio)
1
a
: permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing
Investigators wanted to get access to his home.
consultants who have easy access to the president
b
: freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something
paying for access to the Internet
c
: a way or means of entering or approaching
A canal provides access to the river.
a building that provides wheelchair access [=a way for people in wheelchairs to enter]
d
: the act or an instance of accessing something
2
a
: onset sense 2
an access of illness
b
: a fit of intense feeling : outburst
If it had been in Tito's nature to feel an access of rage, he would have felt it against this bull-faced accomplice.George Eliot
3
: an increase by addition
a sudden access of wealth

access

2 of 2

verb

accessed; accessing; accesses

transitive verb

: to get at : to gain access to: such as
a
: to be able to use, enter, or get near (something)
accessed the computer by phone
a system that makes it easier to access the money in your bank account
b
: to open or load (a computer file, an Internet site, etc.)
a file that can be accessed by many users at the same time

Examples of access in a Sentence

Noun We have Internet access at the library. a sudden access of hay fever was making him feel miserable Verb The new system makes it easier to access the money in your bank account. Your favorite radio stations can be accessed at the touch of a button. The file loads every time you access the website. The file can be accessed by many users at the same time. She could work at home by remotely accessing the company's network. You'll need a password to access the database.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Having access to resources can also be helpful—donations can be expensive. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024 Visible offers access to Verizon’s network in two unlimited plans for as low as $25 per month, with unlimited data, talk and text using Verizon’s 5G & 4G LTE networks, and unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada. Molly Higgins, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
Verb
First Star Institute, accessed Nov. 26, Federal Child Welfare Oversight Thank you for supporting our journalism. Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024 Surfshark is our favorite VPN to get around geographical restrictions on content (aka access Netflix) and protect your web traffic while using an open Wi-Fi hotspot. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for access 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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" — more at accede

Verb

derivative of access entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of access was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near access

Cite this Entry

“Access.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/access. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

access

1 of 2 noun
ac·​cess ˈak-ˌses How to pronounce access (audio)
1
: permission or power to enter, approach, or make use of
access to secret information
Internet access
2
: a way or means of approach
a nation's access to the sea

access

2 of 2 verb
: to get at : gain access to

Legal Definition

access

noun
ac·​cess ˈak-ˌses How to pronounce access (audio)
often attributive
1
: permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, communicate with, or pass to and from a place, thing, or person
public access to federal land
access to the courts
2
: opportunity for sexual intercourse
3
: a landowner's legal right to pass from his or her land to a highway and to return without being obstructed
4
: freedom or ability to obtain, make use of, or participate in something
the right to equal treatment holds with respect to a limited set of interests — like voting — and demands that every person have the same access to these interestsL. H. Tribe
5
a
: a way by which a thing or place may be approached or reached
b
: passage to and from a place
provide a means of access to the land
6
: opportunity to view or copy a copyrighted work

More from Merriam-Webster on access

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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