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access

n. · v.
US //ˈækˌsɛs// UK //ˈæksɛs// ac·cess
  1. 1 entry or admission (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the right or ability to enter a place or see someone.

    the right, opportunity, or means of approaching or entering a place or person.

    Example

    Only staff members have access to the laboratory after 6:00 PM.

    Example

    The new security protocol ensures that only authorised personnel are granted access to the restricted archives.

    Usage

    usually followed by the preposition 'to'
    Pitfall
    The students have access in the library.
    The students have access to the library.

    The noun 'access' is followed by the preposition 'to', not 'in' or 'at'.

  2. 2 using information or services (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Academic

    the ability to use a service or look at information.

    the right or opportunity to use a resource or view specific information.

    Example

    Many people in the village still do not have access to clean water.

    Example

    The government is working to improve public access to high-quality healthcare in rural regions.

    Usage

    uncountable in this sense
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  1. 3 computing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    a connection to the internet or a way to open computer files.

    the process of connecting to a computer system, the internet, or specific digital data.

    Example

    I lost my internet access when the storm knocked down the power lines.

    Example

    The database administrator restricted access to the sensitive customer files to prevent a potential data breach.
  2. 4 family law (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    the legal right of a parent to visit their child.

    the legal right of a non-custodial parent to spend time with their child.

    Example

    The father was granted weekend access to his children after the court hearing.

    Example

    The court's primary concern when determining access rights is the long-term welfare and stability of the child.

    Usage

    often used in the phrase 'custody and access'

    Teacher's tip

    This is a technical legal term; in everyday conversation, people usually say 'visitation' or 'seeing the kids'.
  3. 5 to reach or open (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to open a computer file or reach a place.

    to gain entry to a location or to retrieve data from a computer system.

    Example

    You can access your bank account online using this mobile app.

    Example

    The rescue team struggled to access the remote valley due to the heavy snowfall and blocked roads.

    Usage

    transitive verb; do not use 'to' after the verb

    Teacher's tip

    Remind students that 'have access to' (noun) needs 'to', but 'access' (verb) does not.
    Pitfall
    You can access to the files here.
    You can access the files here.

    Unlike the noun, the verb 'access' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to'.

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.

Word family

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