enter

1 of 2

verb

en·​ter ˈen-tər 

entered; entering ˈen-t(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to go or come in

2

: to come or gain admission into a group : join

—often used with into

3

a

: to make a beginning

entering upon a career

b

: to begin to consider a subject

—usually used with into or upon

4

: to go upon land for the purpose of taking possession

5

a

: to come onstage

—usually used in the subjunctive as a stage direction

enter Hamlet reading

b

: to come into a preestablished situation or context like an actor coming onstage

—usually used in the subjunctive

enter the new principal with her radical ideas

6

: to play a part : be a factor

other considerations enter when money is involved

transitive verb

1

: to come or go into

enter a room

2

: inscribe, register

enter the names of qualified voters

3

: to cause to be received or admitted

enter a child at a school

4

: to put in : insert

enter the new data into the computer

5

a

: to make a beginning in

enter politics

b

: to go into (a particular period of time)

enter middle age

6

: to become a member of or an active participant in

enter the university

enter a race

7

: to make report of (a ship or its cargo) to customs authorities

8

: to place in proper form before a court of law or upon record

enter a writ

9

: to go into or upon and take actual possession of (something, such as land)

10

: to put formally on record

entering a complaint

enterable

ˈen-t(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

enter-

2 of 2

combining form

variants or entero-

: intestine

enteritis

Phrases

enter into

1

: to make oneself a party to or in

enter into an agreement

2

: to form or be part of

your prejudices shouldn't enter into it

3

: to participate or share in

enter into the spirit of the occasion

enter the lists

: to engage in a fight or struggle

Synonyms

Verb

• access
• penetrate
• pierce

Choose the Right Synonym for enter

enter, penetrate, pierce, probe mean to make way into something.

enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Examples of enter in a Sentence

Verb

Knock on the door before you enter the room.

The medication will quickly enter the blood stream.

The river enters the sea near here.

Our son will be entering college next year.

enter a child in kindergarten

The new battleship is scheduled to enter service next spring.

an actor who's just now entering his prime

The strike has now entered its second week.

We've entered a new phase in our relationship.

The country is entering a period of prosperity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Workout: At first, I was intimidated when entering the studio. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 19 Oct. 2024

The Dodgers, meanwhile, got one run back against Mets left-hander David Peterson, making the score 3-1 entering the third. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024

Biden not only saw a chance to enter the progressive hall of fame. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 19 Oct. 2024

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are both campaigning on climate as the 2024 presidential race enters its final days. —Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English entren, from Anglo-French entrer, from Latin intrare, from intra within; akin to Latin inter between — more at inter-

Combining form

Greek, from enteron — more at inter-

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3a

Phrases Containing enter

• enter common usage
• enter (into) the equation
• enter office
• enter one's head
• enter politics
• enter someone's mind/head
• enter the picture
• enter the picture/scene

Kids Definition

enter

verb

en·​ter ˈent-ər 

entered; entering ˈent-ə-riŋ 

ˈen-triŋ

1

: to go or come in or into

enter a room

2

: penetrate sense 1b, pierce

the needle enters the skin at an angle

3

: to cause to be admitted to : enroll

enter a child in kindergarten

4

a

: to become a member of

b

: to take part in : join

enter a race

enter into a discussion

5

: to make a beginning

enter into business

6

: to take possession

entered upon their inheritance

7

a

: to set down in a book or list

entered my name on the roster

b

: to put in or into : insert

enter data into the computer program

8

: to place formally before a legal authority (as a court)

enter a complaint

enterable

ˈent-ə-rə-bəl 

ˈen-trə-

adjective

Legal Definition

enter

intransitive verb

en·​ter

: to go or come in

specifically : to go upon real property by right of entry especially to take possession

lessor shall have the right to enter and take possession

—often used in deeds and leases

transitive verb

1

: to come or go into

he breaks into and enters a vehicle

—Code of Alabama

see also break, breaking and entering

2

: record, register

3

: to put in correct form before a court or on a record

entered judgment against the defendant

entering a plea

compare render

4

: to go upon (real property) by right of entry especially to take possession

if the lessee defaults, the lessor may enter the premises

compare distrain

enterable adjective