access 1 of 2

noun

ˈak-ˌses How to pronounce access (audio)
Definition of accessnext
1
as in attack
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a sudden access of hay fever was making him feel miserable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entrance
the means or right of entering or participating in in the evening the only access to the building is through the side door

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

access

2 of 2

verb

as in to enter
to go or come in or into could not access the bank vault because the lock was controlled by a timer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of access
Noun
The date circulating is September 25, 2026, with early access opening September 18 for Ultimate Edition buyers and EA Play subscribers. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Your membership gives you access to all facilities nationwide. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Verb
Turn left on Northwest Third Court to access the ramp to southbound I-95. — Howard Cohen july 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026 Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for access
Recent Examples of Synonyms for access
  1. attack
  2. entrance
  3. enter
  4. bout
  5. door
  6. penetrate
  7. seizure
  8. accession
Noun
  • While a ground operation would be complex, the ISIS report pointed out several possible avenues for attack.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • That case focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself; the federal one delves more into questions of motive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of attack
Noun
  • The unassuming entrance to the black box theater at Vesper Theatre.
    — Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • At the entrance was a white table covered with keepsakes and ornamental photo frames.
    — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of entrance
Verb
  • The Khoslas are entering a new chapter for the franchise after nearly three decades under the Allen family — bringing a similar tech and business legacy, but a very different personal history.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The freshman four-year graduation rate is the percentage of undergraduate students who entered the university as freshmen and completed their bachelor’s degree within four years.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of enter
Noun
  • Elsewhere, Oba Femi defeated JD McDonagh, further hyping his Hell in a Cell bout against Brock Lesnar.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Rather, a messy conflict oscillating between bouts of strikes and periods of relative calm beckons, while mediators look for new avenues to revive negotiations.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of bout
Noun
  • While some businesses relying on summer traffic have been forced to temporarily close their doors, others refuse to let the smoke alter their plans.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Triple entry doors open into rooms that feel generous and far from overbearing.
    — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of door
Verb
  • Neumann said Netflix still has significant room to grow, noting the company has penetrated less than 45% of its roughly 800 million addressable households worldwide and accounts for only about 5% of global TV viewing.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Smoke from wildfires is made of water vapor, pollutants and particulate matter, which can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, trigger systemic inflammation, exacerbate conditions like asthma and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of penetrate
Noun
  • Brody also cited the former stockbroker Patten's remorse for his crime of securities fraud, and his history of seizures, which included two in February and May, as other reasons for a non-prison sentence.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • On Monday, the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued a statement on Facebook announcing the arrests, as well as the seizure of copious amounts of drugs over the course of Phish’s three shows at the Ruoff Music Center.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • In recent years, Turkey has played a spoiler within NATO, slowing down the accession of Sweden and Finland in 2023 and 2024.
    — Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR, 7 July 2026
  • Those years included major events including Prince Philip’s death in 2021, Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee festivities and her death months later in 2022, King Charles’ accession to the throne and later coronation in 2023.
    — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of accession

Browse Nearby Words

accepts
access
accessed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Access.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/access. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on access

Nglish: Translation of access for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All