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accost

[ uh-kawst, uh-kost ]
/ əˈkɔst, əˈkɒst /
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See synonyms for: accost / accosted / accosts on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
to confront boldly: The beggar accosted me for money.
to approach, especially with a greeting, question, or remark.
(of prostitutes, procurers, etc.) to solicit for sexual purposes.
noun
a greeting.
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Origin of accost

First recorded in 1570–80, accost is from the Late Latin word accostāre to be or put side by side. See ac-, coast

OTHER WORDS FROM accost

ac·cost·a·ble, adjectiveun·ac·cost·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby accost

accordion, accordion-fold, accordionist, accordion pleat, accordion pleats, accost, accosted, accouchement, accoucheur, accoucheuse, account
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to accost

annoy, buttonhole, confront, address, bother, brace, call, challenge, cross, dare, entice, face, flag, greet, hail, proposition, salute, welcome, run into, whistle for

How to use accost in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accost

accost
/ (əˈkɒst) /
verb
(tr) to approach, stop, and speak to (a person), as to ask a question, accuse of a crime, solicit sexually, etc
noun
rare a greeting

Derived forms of accost

accostable, adjective

Word Origin for accost

C16: from Late Latin accostāre to place side by side, from Latin costa side, rib
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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