# accost

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈkɔst/ · frequency rank #98,935

## Definitions
1. To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request.
2. To join side to side; to border.
3. To sail along the coast or side of.
4. To approach; to come up to.
5. To speak to first; to address; to greet.
6. To adjoin; to lie alongside.
7. To assault.
8. To solicit sexually.

## Etymology
From Middle French accoster, acoster, from Old French acoster (“to stand beside”) (whence Medieval Latin accostare), from Old French a- + coste (“side, flank”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/accost