gain access — get entry
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to be allowed to enter or use a place, system, or information that was not available before.
Say it like a native
Textbook Users must first obtain authorisation to enter the system.
Native You need to gain access to the system first.
'Gain access' is the standard phrase; 'obtain authorisation to enter' is an IT policy.
Pattern: gain access (to something)
In use
- Only employees can gain access to the company’s private files.daily life
- In my opinion, everyone should be able to gain access to quality education, no matter where they live.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Hackers gained access in the network.
✓ Hackers gained access to the network.
It's 'gain access TO' something — not 'in'.
Common collocations
gain access (to)— to the building, to data, to the account, illegally
Don't confuse it
‘Gain access’ is more formal than ‘get in’ or ‘log in’.