# accede

/ækˈsid/ (US) · /ɐksˈiːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accede
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to take a high office

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to take a high position, such as becoming a king, queen, or president.

For teachers: to attain or assume a high office, dignity, or station, most commonly used in the context of a throne.

- Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne in 1952.
- The young prince acceded to the throne during a period of significant political instability and social unrest.

Usage: Typically used with 'to the throne' or 'to the presidency'.

### 3. to join a treaty

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to officially join an agreement or a treaty between countries.

For teachers: to become a party to an international agreement, treaty, or convention.

- Several more countries are expected to accede to the climate treaty next year.
- The nation's decision to accede to the trade agreement was met with both praise from economists and protests from local farmers.

## Examples

- The committee decided to accede to the request for more funding.
- After the previous president resigned, the vice president was expected to accede to the office immediately.
- The board of directors eventually acceded to the shareholders' demands, though only after a lengthy and contentious series of meetings that threatened to derail the merger entirely.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.