Collins COBUILD

abi|lity /əˈbɪlɪtɪ/

Your ability to do something is the fact that you can do it.

• The public never had faith in his ability to do the job.
• He has the ability to bring out the best in others.
• [+of] the ability of an individual to work in a team.

the ability of someone
have/possess/demonstrate/show/develop an ability
lack/lose an ability

skill and ability
willingness and ability
capability
inability

abroad /əˈbrɔːd/

If you go abroad, you go to a foreign country.

• I would love to go to abroad this year.
• About 65 per cent of the company's sales come from abroad.

go/travel/work/live/move abroad
a trip/ holiday abroad
overseas

ac|cent /ˈæksənt/

Someone who speaks with a particular accent says words in a way that shows which country or part of a country they come from, which social class they belong to.

• He had a slight American accent.

a Scottish/English/northern accent
a thick/heavy/slight accent

ac|com|mo|da|tion /əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃən/

uncountable
Accommodation is the buildings or rooms where people live or stay.
[BRIT; in AM, use accomodations]

• The building provides accommodation for 80 students.
• The price includes flights and hotel accommodation.
• Rates are higher for deluxe accomodation.

provide/offer/rent/book/find accommodation
hotel/holiday/temporary/overnight accommodation
self-catering/B&B/half-board accommodation
residential/student accommodation

ac|count /əˈkaʊnt/

An account is a written or spoken report of something that has happened.

• [+of] He gave a detailed account of what happened.
• According to police accounts, Mr and Mrs Hunt were found dead in their kitchen.
  an account of something
  give/write/publish an account
  a full/detailed/brief account
  a first-hand/eye-witness/personal account

according to accounts
report, description

act /ækt/

1. When you act, you do something for a particular purpose.

• We must act now to stop climate change.
• The company acted quickly to deal with the problem.
• the duty of doctors to act in the best interest of patients.

2. If someone acts in a particular way, they behave in that way.

• Call the police if you see anyone acting suspiciously.
• [+ as if] He acted as if he hadn't heard any of it.

3. If someone or something acts as a particular thing, they have that role or function.

• [+as] He acted as an advisor to the government.
  act as if/like/as something
  act on behalf of someone
  act quickly/swiftly/alone/independently
  act responsibly/decisively/appropriately
  act improperly/illegally/suspiciously

act in particular manner/way
act in the interest of someone/something
act in self defence

behave, function

4. An act is a thing that someone does.[FORMAL]

• [+of] the act of reading
• He had committed several acts of violence.

action, deed

ac|tion /ˈækʃən/

1. uncountable Action is doing something for a particular purpose.

• The government is taking emergency action to deal with the crisis.
• What was needed, he said, was decisive action to halt what he called these savage crimes.
• the only possible course of action

2. countable An action is something that you do.

• This action has been totally ineffective.
• We are responsible for our own actions.

take action
demand/require/need action
immediate/urgent/further action
decisive/appropriate/direct action

a plan of action
a course of action

measure, step, deed