accession

/əkˈseʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /əkˈseʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈse-shən ak-/ (ame, mw) · /əkˈseʃ.ən/ (bre, ipa) · /əkˈseʃ.ən/ (ame, ipa)

accession — noun

  • accessionsingular
  • accessionsplural

1. the moment when a person formally takes up an important office, especially when

1.名詞C1
釋義

the moment when a person formally takes up an important office, especially when becoming king or queen of a country.

例句

Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne happened in 1952, after her father died.

accession to the throne (royal context)

Crowds gathered in Madrid to celebrate the new king's accession.

[possessive] + accession (no preposition)

同義詞
  • succession

    the order in which people inherit a title; accession is the actual moment of taking it

  • coronation

    the public ceremony, while accession is the legal start of the reign

  • enthronement

    very formal; the act of being seated on the throne

反義詞
  • abdication

    the act of giving up the throne or office

文法句型

accession to + position

用法筆記

Almost always paired with 'to the throne' or a possessive (his/her/the new king's). Subject is typically a monarch, head of state, or, rarely, a senior office holder.

常見錯誤

He won the accession of the throne.
He came to the throne by accession.
💡accession is not something you win or lose; it names the moment of starting the role.

2. the formal step by which a state becomes a member of an international body or fo

2.名詞C1
釋義

the formal step by which a state becomes a member of an international body or formally adds its name to a treaty.

例句

Poland's accession to the European Union took place on 1 May 2004.

accession to + named organization

The treaty was opened to accession by any country willing to ban land mines.

open to accession (passive frame)

同義詞
  • entry

    less formal; covers any kind of joining

  • admission

    stresses the receiving body's approval

  • adherence

    very formal; emphasises sticking to the treaty's rules

反義詞
  • withdrawal

    leaving an organization or treaty

  • secession

    formally breaking away from a state or union

文法句型

accession to + organization

accession of + country

用法筆記

Common in EU, UN, and trade-treaty reporting. Subject is a country or state; objects are usually organizations (the EU, the WTO) or treaties. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the agent is a person (sense 1) or a country (sense 2).

常見錯誤

My company's accession to the conference.
My company's attendance at the conference.
💡accession is reserved for states joining treaties or international bodies, not companies attending events.

3. a country, person, or other entity that has only lately come into a club, associ

3.名詞C2
釋義

a country, person, or other entity that has only lately come into a club, association, or alliance.

例句

Croatia and Bulgaria are the latest accessions to the trading bloc.

latest accessions to + group (countable plural)

Dr. Park welcomed two new accessions to the research panel at the lab dinner.

new accessions (members of a group)

同義詞
  • newcomer

    everyday word; can be a person joining any setting

  • new member

    plain and clear; safer in most contexts

  • entrant

    stresses the act of entering a contest or group

文法句型

[recent] accession to + group

用法筆記

Countable in this sense, unlike senses 1 and 2. Used mostly of countries joining alliances; using it for individuals sounds bookish or playful.

4. a book, painting, manuscript, or similar item that has recently been taken into

4.名詞C2
釋義

a book, painting, manuscript, or similar item that has recently been taken into the holdings of a museum, library, or archive.

例句

The Tate's most exciting accession this year is a small Van Gogh sketch.

[institution]'s accession (single new item)

Rare maps and old letters made up most of the library's accessions in 1995.

the library's accessions (countable plural)

同義詞
  • acquisition

    broader; covers any new item, including those bought by individuals

  • addition

    everyday word; works for any collection, big or small

反義詞
  • deaccession

    the formal removal of an item from a museum's collection

文法句型

[museum/library]'s accessions

用法筆記

Almost exclusive to museum, library, and archive contexts. Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'accession number' (the ID written on each new item).

常見錯誤

I bought a new accession for my book collection.
I bought a new addition for my book collection.
💡for personal collections, use 'addition' or 'acquisition'; 'accession' belongs in institutional settings.

accession — verb